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Selecting 




Price 23 Cents 

OR THE USE OF PROFESSIONALS AND AMATEURS 

BY 

WENTWORTH HOGG 


NEW YORK 
5AMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

38-80 West 88th Street 


LONDON 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 


























4/0 


GUIDE TO SELECTING PLAYS. 




QUIDE TO 

SELECTING 

PLAYS 

SHOWING THE 


Number of Characters—Acts and Scenes -The Class of 
Flay The Costumes—Time in Representation— 

An Account of the Dramatis Personee— 

The Plot Connected with Each. 


ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS 
OF ANY COMPANY 


BY 

WENTWORTH HOGG. 

'/ 


NEW YORK 

SAM UEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 West 38th Street 


LONDON 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 














\Ap 


PREFACE 


The enormous success attending the previouf 
▼ersions of this book has induced me to again 
thoroughly revise and add to it. In the present 
edition will be found a description of the numerous 
plays available to amateurs but which exist only in 
manuscript, and which were not hitherto included. 
I have decided to make this an annual book, so that all 
new plays that may become available during the 
preceding year will be found in their places, and not 
merely in an appendix as before. 

As I have remarked in the former preface, it has 
not been my intention to write any critical remarks 
on the pieces in question, my sole desire being to give 
my readers a concise summary of the plot, the number 
and nature of the characters, and some idea of the 
necessary scenery. I do not claim any literary merit 
for the book, but the work of examining and analysing 
thousands of pieces was certainly considerable. The 
labour has, however, in my case been one of love, 
and I shall feel myself amply rewarded by the 
consciousness that I have saved infinite time, trouble, 
and worry to those who have for so many years 
kindly agreed to look upon me in matters theatrical 
in the light of their Friend, Philosopher, and Guide 
—for selecting Plays. 


WENTWORTH HOGG 



CONTENTS, 


Play* for Two Characters ... 

••• 

••• 

• •• 

1 

• •• 

PAG! 

1 

Plays for Three Characters • ... 

... 

• •• 


• •• 

9 

Plays for Four Characters. 

• •• 

... 


• •• 

16 

Plays for Five Characters. 

... 



• •• 

27 

Plays for Six Characters. 

• •• 



• • • 

42 

Plays for Seven Characters 

• •• 



• •• 

67 

Plays for Eight Characters 

... 


... 

... 

72 

Plays for Nine Characters. 

• •• 


... 

... 

84 

Plays for Ten Characters. 

• •• 


• •• 

... 

95 

Plays for Eleven Characters 

••• 

... 


... 

105 

Plays for Twelve Characters 

... 

... 


... 

113 

Plays for Thirteen Characters and Upwards 



... 

119 

Plays in Manuscript. 

... 



... 

130 

Children’s Plays in Manuscript ... 

... 



... 

146 

Ladies’ Plays. 

• •• 




147 

Home Plays for Ladies . 

••• 



... 

152 

Male Character Plays . 

••• 

... 

... 

... 

155 

Dramas for Boys . 

• •• 



• •• 

161 

Military Plays . 

... 

... 


• •• 

162 

Nautical Plays . 

... 



... 

165 

Irish Plays . 


... 


... 

167 

Scotch Plays. 

• •• 

... 

... 

... 

171 

Plays containing a French Character 

... 



... 

172 

Temperance Plays . 

... 



• •• 

174 

Children’s Plays . 

... 



... 

176 

Fairy and Home Plays . 

• •• 


... 

... 

178 

Juvenile Plays for Home Performance 

• •• 



... 

179 

Charades . 

• •• 

• •• 

• •• 

... 

180 

Sensation Series . 

• •• 



... 

182 

List of Favourite Old Comedies ... 

• •• 

• •• 

... 

... 

183 

Plays in which a Male Part assumes Various Characters 

... 

183 

Plays in which a Female Part assumes Various Characters 

... 

1§3 

Plays which require 1 Scene Throughout 

• •• 

... 

... 

184 

Pastoral Plays . 

... 

• •• 

• •• 

... 

185 

Burlesques, Fairy Plays, and Extravag 

anzas 

• •• 

• •• 

... 

186 

Operas. 

... 

• •• 

• •• 

... 

189 

Operas Published with Music 

... 

• •• 

••• 

... 

191 

The German Reed Repertory of Musical Pieces... 

• •• 

• •• 

192 

Costumes and Wigs on Hire 

• •• 

• •• 

••• 

• •• 

192 

(Scenery ... ... ... ... 

••• 

••• 

MS 

• •• 

193 







INDEX 


PAGE 


A.. 8. 8. .. ... .. 30 

Absence of Mind .. 25 
Absent Man .. .. 29 

Acacia Cottage .. 27 

Accepted by Proxy .. 1 

Acis and Galatea 
(Burlesque) .. .. 186 

Act of Piracy .. .. 1 

Adamless Eden .. 191 
Adventures of a Love 
Letter .. .. 119 

Advice Gratis .. 49 

Affair of Honour .. 162 
After a Storm .. 46 

After Dinner .. .. 10 

After the Party .. 2 

Aggravating Sam .. 101 
Agnes deVere .. 87 

Alabama .. .. 165 

Aladdin .. . .. .. 186 

Aladdin (Fairy and 

Home) .. ..178 

Aladdin (Parlour) .. 180 
Alarming Sacrifice .. 72 

Ali Baba; or the 39 

Thieves .. .. 186 

Ali Baba (Fairy) .. 178 

Alice in Wonderland 178 
Alice, the Mystery .. 182 

AH at C.158 

All That Glitters is 
Not Gold .. ..90 

A1 low Me to Apologise 57 

Alone .64 

Alonzo the Brave .. 186 
A lways Intended .. 46 

Amazons .. .. 114 

Ambassador .. .. 136 

Among the Relics .. 108 
Ample Apology . .. 23 

An American Citizen 119 
Andy Blake .. .. 167 

Angel of the Attic .. 14 

Angelina’s Lover .. 9 

Anthony’s Legacy . 34 

Anything for a Change 46 
Appeal to the Feelings 88 
April Folly 
April Fool 
April Showers .. 

Arabian Nights 
Area Belle 
Arrah-na-Pogue 
Artful Dodge .. 

Artist’s Model 
Artist’s Wife .. 

As Like as Two Pea 
As Once in May 
As You Make your Bed 
So You Must Lie 

in It .154 

Assault and Battery 34 
At Cross Purposes .. 151 
At Sixes and Sevens 58 
Atchi .34 


23 

38 

76 

84 

29 
141 

92 

49 

172 

30 
34 


PAGE 

Aubrey Closes the 
Door .. .. 24 

Auld Acquaintance 69 
Aunt Charlotte’s Maid 43 
Aunt Dinah’s Pledge 174 
Aunt J ack .. .. 130 

Aunt Jane’s Flat .. 2 

Aunt Minerva .. 151 

Aurora Floyd .. 93 

Awakening .. .. 106 

Awaking .. .. 64 


Babes in the Wood, Is. 
Babes in the Wood 
Babes in the Wood 
(Burlesque) 

Babes in the Wood 
(Fairy) 

“B. B.” .. 

Bachelor’s Buttons 
Bachelor of Arts 
Backbiting . .. 
Backward Child 
Bad Penny 
Baffled Spinster 
Bailiff 

Balance of Comfort 
Ballet d’Autrefois 
Balloon 

Bamboozling .. 
Banditti 
Barbara 
Barefaced Irrpostors 
Barney the Baron 
Barrister 
Baron’s Wager 
Bathing 

Bauble Shop .. 

Bear and Forbear 
Bearding the Lion 
Beautiful for Ever 
Beauty and the Beast 
(Operetta) 

Beauty and the Beast 
(Fairy) 

Beauty or the Beast 
Beaux’ Stratagem 
Bed of Roses .. 
Behind Time .. 

Belle of Barley Mow 
Belle’s Stratagem 
Bells, The 
Ben Bolt 

Ben the Boatswain 
Bengal Tiger .. 

Best Way .. 
Betsy .. .. 

Betsy Baker 
Better Half 
Between the Posts 
Bilious Attack 
Billee Taylor .. 
Billing and Cooing 


120 

159 

186 

178 

49 

74 

82 

181 

147 

40 

16 

24 

76 

191 

97 

88 

180 

21 

189 

167 

120 

3 

74 

136 

178 

28 

17 

191 

178 

88 

183 

52 

49 

186 

183 

125 

165 

165 

49 

19 

120 

17 

71 

9 

17 

191 

89 


PAGE 

Billy Doo .. .. 23 

Billy’s Little Love 
Affair .. .. 120 

Binks the Bagman .. 165 
Bird in the Bush .. 147 

Birds in their Nests, 

etc. .57 

Birth .103 

Birthplace of Podgers 117 
Bit of Old Chelsea., 40 

Bittersweet .. .. 21 

Black-Eyed Susan 

(Burlesque) .. 186 

Black-Eyed Susan 
(Drama) .. .. 165 

Black Sheep (Comedy) 114 
Black Sheep (Drama) 115 
Blazing Burgee .. 182 
Blighted Being .. 38 

Blind Beggars .. 191 
Blind Boy .. .. 160 

Blindfold .. . .. 180 

Blossom of Churning- 

ton .186 

Blow for Blow .. 108 
Blow in the Dark .. 56 

Blue Beard (Charade) 180 
Blue Beard .. .. 186 

Blue Beard Repaired 186 
Blue Beard (Juvenile) 179 
Blue Beard (Fairy) 178 

Blue Beard (Heber) 178 


Bluejackets .. .. 165 

Bo Peep .. .. 191 

Board and Residence 43 
Boarding School .. 106 

Bobby A 1 .. .. 43 

Bold Dragoons .. 162 
Bold Stroke for a 

Husband .. .. 183 

Bold Stroke for a Wife 183 
Bombastes Furioso .. 186 
Bonnie Fishwife .. 171 

Bookmaker .. ..13 

Booties’Baby .. 141 
Boots at the Swan .. 72 

Border Marr : age .. 171 
Born to Good Luck 167 
Borrowed Plumes .. 30 

Bosom F’iends .. 147 

Bottle, The .. .. 174 

Bought.48 

Bould Soger Boy .. 162 

Bow Bells .. .. 99 

Bowled Out .. .. 59 

Box B .192 

Box and Cox .. . .. 11 

Box and Cox Married 43 
Box of Mischief .. 159 
Brace of Partridges 120 
Bravanzio the Brigand 189 
Breach of Promise .. 66 

Breaking the Ice .. 3 

Breaking the Spell .. 191 








nil, 


INDEX, 


FAGS 

Breezy Morning .. 8 

Brer Rabbit .. .. 146 

Brewer of Preston .. 162 
Brian Boroihme .. 167 
Bride of Abydos 

(Burlesque) .. 186 

Bridget’s Blunders .. 17 

Brigand .. .. 162 

Brigand and his Son 161 
Brigands of Calabria 71 
British Born .. 162 

Brixton Burglary .. 97 

Broken Hearts .. 42 

Broken Idylls .. 149 
Broken Ties .. .. 108 

Broken Toys .. .. 101 

Brother Bill and Me 69 
Brown and Brahmins 186 
Brown Paper Parcel 147 
Brown the Martyr .. 11 

Browne with an “ e ” 43 

Bubbles .. .. 62 

Bunch of Violets .. 117 

Bungalow .. .. 136 

Burglar and the Judge 156 
Burglary .. .. 38 

Busy Body .. .. 183 

But However .. .. 66 

By Special Request 24 


Cabinet Minister .. 120 
Cabinet Question .. 69 

Called Back .. .. 141 

Calthorp Case .. 125 
Camilla’s Husband 125 
Camp at Chobham . 162 

Candidate (Charade) 181 
Cantab .. .. 30 

Cape Mail .. .. 69 

Capital Match .. 30 

Capital Joke .. .. 191 

Captain Charlotte .. 100 
Captain of the Watch 162 
Captain’s Not a Miss 74 
Capta : n Smith .. 57 

Captain Swift .. .. 108 

Caroline and Henriettal54 

Carrots.21 

Carrottina .. .. 191 

Case of Rebellious 

Susan.120 

Castle Bang ... .. 191 

Case for Eviction .. 9 

Cast, King of Granada 162 

Caste .76 

Castle in Spain .. 147 
Cataline .. 180 

Catch a Weasel .. 49 

Catching a Mermaid 49 
Catching an Heiress 162 
Caught by the Cuff .. 39 

Caught by the Ears .. 83 

Caught in his own Trap 31 


Census .74 

Chalk and Cheese .. 9 

Chang-Ching-Fou .. 186 
Change Partners .. 28 
Change of System .. 12 

Chapeau .. .. 181 

Chapter of Accidents 69 

Charitable Bequest 8 

Charity Begins at 
Home .. .. 192 

Charity 101 


FAGB 

Charlatan .. ..142 

Charles XII. .. •• 93 

Charles II. ... .. 83 

Charming Pair .. 59 

Charming Woman .. 76 

Chaims .. .. 125 

Chatterbox .. .. 181 

Checkmate ... .. 114 

Cheerful and Musical 147 
Cherry Bounce .. 56 

Chesterfield Thinskin 56 
Chevaleer .. .. 136 

Child of the Regiment 162 
Childhood’s Dreams 19 
Chili Widow .. ..136 

Chilperic .. .. 191 

Chimney Corner .. 69 

Chiselling ... .. 30 

Choosing a Bride .. 153 
Chops of the Channel 165 
Chopstick and Spikins 42 
Christmas Boxes .. 27 

Christmas Eve in a 
Wa'chho^se .. 156 
Christmas Fairy .. 191 
Christmas Gambol 152 
Chrononhotontho- 
logos .. .. . 186 

Chrysanthemums .. 19 

Chums .19 

Churchwarden .. 130 
Cigarette Maker’* 
Romance .. .. 142 

Cinderella (Burlesque) 186 
Cinderella (Fairy) . 178 

Cinders. 8 

Circumstances Alter 

Cases.46 

Cissy’s Engagement 147 
Clandestine Marriage 183 
Cleft Stick .. .. 95 

Clerical Error .. 24 

Clockmaker’s Hat .. 59 

Clock .14 

Clock on the Stairs .. 69 
Coals of Fire .. ..303 

Coastguard .. .. 181 

Cock Robin .. .. 191 

Collaborators .. 1 

Colleen Bawn .. 167 
Colour-Sergeant .. 41 

Comedy and Tragedy 19 
Comedy and Tragedy 
(Gilbert) ,. 125 

Comfortable Lodgings 102 
Comical Countess .. 23 

Commission .. .. 35 

Compromising Case 62 
Compromising 

Martha.. 16 
Comrades .. .. 136 

Confusion .. .. 97 

Conrad and Medora l p 6 

Consultation .. .. 191 

Contradictions .. 147 
Conversion of Nat 
Sturge .. .. 24 

Cool as a Cucumber 30 
Corsican “ Bothers ” 
(Burlesque) .. 186 
Cosy Couple .. .. 17 

Counsel’s Opinion .. 25 
Count and the 
Secretary .. ..160 


FAQ* 

Counterplot .. .. 180 

Counterplot .. .. 181 

Country Fair .. .. 191 

Country Girl .. .. 1S3 

Country Mouse .. 97 

Court Cards .. .. 78 

Courier of Lyons .. 125 
Court of Oberon .. 84 

Courtship (Charade) 1°1 
Cousin Kate ... .. 136 

Cousin Lambkin .. 59 

Cousin Letty .. 153 

Cousin Peter .. 37 

Cousin Tom .. .. 35 

Cousin Zachary .. 12 

Cousins Once Removed 9 
Cox and Box .. .. 156 

Cracked Heads .. 180 
Cramond Brig .. 171 

Crazed.11 

Crazed (Opera) .. 191 
Creatures of Impulse 186 
Cricket on Hearth .. 96 

Crimeless Criminal 79 

Critic .125 

Crossed Love .. .. 73 

Cross of St. John’s .. 160 
Cross Questions and 
Crooked Answers 147 
Cross Roads .. .. 26 

Cruel to be Kind .. 57 

Crumpet .. .. 180 

Crusader and Craven 191 
Crutch fmd Toothpick 130 
Crystal Gazer .. 147 
Cupboard Love .. 11 

Cupid in Ermine .. 3 

Cupid in Waiting .. 76 

Cupid’s Messenger .. 17 

Cup of Tea .. .. 40 

Cups and Saucers .. 191 
Cure for the Fidgets 60 
Cure for the Heart¬ 
ache .183 

Cut for Partners .. 88 

Cut Off with a Shilling 12 
Cyril’s Success, Is. .. 121 


Daddv Gray .. .. 116 

Daddy Hai dacre .. 54 

Daisy’s Escape .. 137 

Daisy Farm .. .. 126 

Dancing Dervish .. 3 

Dancing Girl.. .. 126 

Dandelion’s Dodges 49 
Dandy Dick .. .. 107 

Danicheffs .. .. 126 

Dan’l Druce .. .. 94 

Dark Cloud .. .. 87 

Daughter-in-Law .. 154 

Daughter to Marry .. 53 

Davenport Bros, and 

Co.. ..66 

David Garrick, Is. .. 117 

Dav after Fair .. 39 

Dav after the Wedding 35 
Day in Paris .. .. 30 

Deacon.19 

Dead Shot .. .. 66 

Deaf as a Post.. .. 107 

Deal Boatman .. 82 

Dean’s Daughter .. 142 

Dearer than Life .. 142 

Dearest Mamma .. 63 









INDEX. 


IX. 


PAGE 

Deborah (Leah) .. 126 

Debt .93 

Deceitful Miss Smiths 151 

B ecided Case .. 35 

eclined with Thanks 74 
Delicate Boy .. .. 176 

Delicate Ground .. 14 

Dentist .. .. 1 

Dentist’s Clerk .. 23 

Deserter in a Fix .. 43 

Desperate Game .. 37 

Desperate Remedies 3 
Diamond cut Diamond 71 
Dick Whittington 

(Fairy) .. ..178 

Did I Dream it? .. 60 

Did you ever send 
your Wife to Cam¬ 
berwell ? .. .. 27 

Dimity’s Dilemma .. 74 

Dinner for N othing 88 
Dinner for Two .. 156 

Diplomacy .. .. 142 

Doctor’s Engage¬ 
ments .. .. 149 

Dodge for a Dinner .. 92 

Does He Love Me?.. 100 
Doing Bantinsr .. 80 

Doing for the Best .. 78 
Doing my Uncle .. 43 

Doing the Hansom .. 60 

Dolldom .. .. 191 

Dolly ..189 

Domestic Economy .. 72 

Domestic Entangle¬ 
ment .. .. 151 

Domestic Hearthstone 182 
Dominique the 

Deserter .. .. 162 

Don Caesar de Bazan 111 
Don Pa ddy de Bazan 167 
Done Brown .. .. 172 

Done on Both Sides 30 
Don’t Judge by Ap¬ 
pearances .. .. 30 

Double-bedded Room 49 
Double Dealings .. 191 

Doubtful Victory .. 19 

Douglas .. .. 171 

Dowager .. .. 62 

Dr. Barlow .. .. 158 

Dr. Bill .. ..130 

Drawing Rooms, 

Second Floor and 
Attic .... 88 

Dreadfully Alarming 49 
Dream of Delusion .. 69 

Dream of the Future 76 
Dreams .. .. 90 

Dream Faces .. .. 21 

Dress Rehearsal .. 191 
Dressmaking .. 180 

Drifted Apart .. 8 

Drunkard .. .. 174 

Drunkard’s Children 174 
Drunkard’s Doom .. 174 
Drunkard’s Warning 174 
Duchess of Bayswater 
a^d Co. .. .. 53 

Duchess of Mansfeldt 152 
Duchess or Nothing 81 
Duel in the Snow .. 90 

Duet . 2 

Dumb Belle > 85 


PAGE 

Dumb Man of Man¬ 
chester .. .. 78 

Duty .114 

D’ye Know me Now 2 157 
Dying for Love .. 46 

Easy Shaving .. 66 

Eight Hours at the 

Seaside .. .. 43 

Eileen Oge .. .. 167 

Eily O’Connor (Bur 


PAGE 

39 

. 26 


lesque) 

Eily O’Connor 
(Drama) .. 
Elfin Well 
Ella’s Apology 
Elopement 
E’sie’s Rival 


.. 186 

.. 167 

.. 191 
.. 8 
.. 63 

.. 24 


End of the Tether .. 158 
’Enry Brown .. .. 147 

Engaged .. .. 95 

English Gentleman 109 
Englishman’s House 
his Castle .. .. 60 

Esmeralda (Bur¬ 
lesque) v .. 186 

Eternal Masculine .. 148 
Eton Boy .. 30 

Everybody’s Friend 106 
Everybody’s Husband 105 
Every Man in 

Humour .. .. 183 

Everyone has his 
Fault .. .. 183 

Extremes, Is.121 

Extremes (Operetta) 191 


Extremes Meet 


16 


Eyes and No Eyes .. 192 


FabrDato 
Faces in the Fire 
Facing the Music 
Faded Flowers 


50 

89 

86 

14 


Fearful Tragedy, etc 

Fennel. 

Field of Cloth of Gold 187 
Fifteen Years pf a 
Drunkard’s Life .. 
Fifteen Years’ Labour 

Lost . 

Fighting by Proxy .. 

Final .. 

Fine Feathers 
First Affections 
First Aid to the 
Wounded 

First Come, First 
Served 

First Experiment .. 
First in the Field 
First Love 
First Mate 
First Night 
Fish out of Water 
Fit of the Blues .. 
Fitzsmythe of Fitz- 
smythe 

Five Pounds Reward 
Flies in the Web 
Floating a Company 
Floating Beacon 
Florette .. 

Fly and the Web 
Follies of a Night 
Follow the Leader .. 

Fool and his Money 
Fool’s Paradise 
Forest Keeper 
For her Child’s Sake 
For Papa's Sake 
For the Old Love’s 
Sake .. .. .. 87 

Fortune’s Frolic .. 88 

Forty Winks (Oper¬ 
etta) .191 

Founded on Facts .. 50 


174 

31 

80 

181 

126 

76 

1 


46 

.. 24 

.. 24 

.. 117 
.. 99 

.. 172 
.. 80 
191 


80 
39 
63 
3 

165 
.. 191 
.. 19 

.. 81 
.. 16 
137 
.. 86 
.. 78 

37 
35 


etc. . 

24 

Found in a Four- 


Faint Heart Never, 


Wheeler 

17 

etc. 

81 

Foundling 

131 

Fair Encounter 

148 

Four Little Girls .. 

131 

Fair Equestrienne .. 

12 

Four Sisters 

50 

Fair Exchange 

63 

Fox and the Grapes 

153 

Fair Maid of Perth .. 

171 

Fra Diavolo (Bur- 


Fair Pretender 

65 

lesque) 

187 

Fair Rosamond 

186 

Fragment 

38 

Fair Rosamond’s 


Frederick of Prussia 

93 

Bower 

186 

Freedom of Suzanne 

137 

Fairyland 

178 

Freezing a Mother- 


Fairy Blossom 

176 

in-Law 

31 

Faithful James 

66 

French Exhibition .. 

172 

False Alarm 

74 

Friend in Need 

100 

Fa’se and Constant 

100 

Friend in Deed 

25 

False Shame .. 

107 

Friend Waggles 

74 

Family Failing 

71 

Friends. 

154 

Family Jars 

50 

From Village to Court 

85 

Family Pictures 

73 

Frozen Heart .. 

191 

Fancy Fair 

3 

Fruits of the Wine 


Farmer’s Story 

103 

Cup . 

174 

Fashionable Intelli- 


Funnibone’s Fix 

80 

gence . 

8 

Funny Facts and 


Fascinating Mr. 


Foob'sh Fancies .. 

178 

Vanderveldt 

121 

Furnished Apart- 


Fast Coach 

43 

ments. 

157 

Fast Friends .. .. 

148 



Fast Train 

156 

Gaffer Grey’s Lega-cy 

152 

Fatal Glass 

174 

GaleBreezley .. 

165 

Faust and Gretchen 

191 

Game of Cness 

3 

Fearful Mystery .. 

191 

Game of Romps .. 

73 








X, 


INDEX 


PAGE 


Garden Party 
Garrick (Muskerry) 
Gay Lothario 

Genteel. 

Gentleman Jim 
Gentleman from Ire¬ 
land . 

Gentleman of the 
Road .. 
Gentleman Whip 
Gentle Gertrude 
Gertrude’s Money-box 
Gilded Youth 
Gilderoy 

Gipsy . 

Gipsy Farmer .. 
Girl Graduate 

Girls . 

Girton Girl 
Give a Dog a Bad 
Name .. 

G1 ass of Fashion 
Glass of Water .. 
Go to Putney .. .. 

Godpapa 
Going It 

Going to the Derby 
Going to the Dogs .. 
Golden Age 
Golden Plough .. 
Golden Wedding 
Good Boy and the 

Bad . 

Good for Nothing .. 
Good Little Wife 
Good-natured Man .. 
Good Night, Signor 
Pantaloon 

Goose with Golden 

Eggs. 

Gossip . 

Governess 

Grandad’s Darling .. 
Grandfather’s Story.. 
Grandmother’s Gown 
Grannie’s Picture .. 
Grass Widows 
Grateful Father . .. 
Great Demonstration 
Green Old Age 
Grey Mare 
Grimaldi 

Grimsbaw, Bagshaw, 
and Bradshaw 
Grist to the Mill 
Guinea Stamp 
Gutter of Time 

Guv’nor. 

Guy Fawkes (Char¬ 
ade) . 

Guy Faux 
Guy Mannering 


3 

109 

19 
180 

1 

167 

190 
63 
17 
54 
90 

171 
22 

110 

3 
97 

191 

17 

76 

97 

60 

1.S1 

109 

73 
60 

191 

110 
12 

176 

56 

20 
183 

189 

74 
89 

153 

15 

161 

4 

176 

191 

58 

11 

187 

131 

172 

60 

54 

35 

8 

121 

180 

156 

171 


Hal the Highwayman 64 
Halfway House .. 137 

Handfast .. .. 142 

Handsome Husband 73 
Handy Andy .. .. 167 

Happiest Day of Life 119 
Happiest Man Alire 77 
Happy Ending .. 148 

Happy Man .. .. 167 

Happy Medium .. 50 


PAGE 

Happy Pair .. .. 4 

Happy Return .. 35 

Hard Struggle .. 69 

Harmony .. ... 26 

Harold Hawk .. .. 78 

Harvest.99 

Harvest Home.. .. 126 

Harvest Storm.. .. 104 

Haunted Mill .. 189 

Hazel Kirke .. .. 126 

He Lies Like Truth 66 
He, She, and It .. 1 


He Stoops to Win .. 191 
He That Will Not .. 15 

Head of the Family.. 35 
Head of Romulus .. 46 

Heads or Tails .. 35 

Heart of Midlothian 171 

Hearts .29 

Hearts are Trumps 101 
Hearts of Oak .. 69 

Hearty Party .. 178 
Heiress .. .. 153 

Heir-at-Law .. .. 183 

Held by the Enemy 143 
Helping Hands .. 101 
Helpless Couple .. 150 

Henrietta .. .. 137 

Hen and Chickens .. 65 

Henry Dunbar .. 126 
Her New Dressmaker 4 

Heroes.89 

He’s a Lunatic .. 31 

Hester’s Mystery .. 35 

Hidden Hand .. 96 

Highland Fling .. 50 

Highland Legacy .. 69 

Highwayman ... 119 
Highwayman’s Holi¬ 
day .27 

His Excellency .. 63 

His First Champagne 107 
His Highness My 
Husband -.. .. 137 

His Last Chance .. 191 
His Last Legs .. 168 
His Last Victory .. 163 
His Life for Hers .. 41 

His Little Dodge .. L>1 
His Only Coat .. 191 

His Own Enemy .. 40 

His Own Guest .. 100 
His Toast .. .. 20 

Hit Him, He has No 

Friends .. .. 100 

Hobby Horse .. .. 121 

Hogmanay .. .. 25 

Hold your Tongue .. 65 

Holly Tree Inn .. 63 

Home .63 

Home Fairy ... .. 176 

Home for a Holiday 40 
Home Rule .. .. 38 

Home, Sweet Home 66 
Home Secretary .. 143 

Homely.181 

Honeymoon .. .. 183 

Honeymoon Tragedy 4 
Honour b-fore Wealth 113 
Hook and Eye. .. 25 

Hopeless Passion 68 

Housebreaker. .. 131 
Household Fairy .. 4 

House or the Home 47 


House that Jack built 191 
House that Jack built 178 
How Stout You are 
Getting .. .. 66 

How to Make Home 
Happy .. .. 64 

How will They Get 

Out of It? .. .. 73 

How’s your Uncle?.. 95 
Hugger Mugger .. 155 
Human Sport .. 38 

Hunchback .. .. 183 

Hundred Thousand 
Pounds .. .. 121 

Hunt for a Husband 85 
Hunting a Turtle .. 71 

Hurly Burly .. ..98 

Husband and Wife., 131 
Husband in Clover .. 1 

Husband to Order .. 78 


I Couldn’t Help it .. 67 

I Love You .. .. 12 

Ici on parle Franpais 58 
Ideal Husband .. 137 

Ideals .. .. 42 

Idiot Witness .. .. 94 

Idler .127 

Idyll of Closing Century 8 
If I had a Thousand 
a Year .. .. 60 

If the Cap Fits .. 77 

Ill-treated J.1 Trovatore 187 
Illustrious Stranger 92 
I’ll Write to the 
“Times” .. .. 66 

Imogen’s New Cook 148 
Importance of being 
Earnest .. .. 86 

I’m not Myself at all 163 
Incompatibility of 
Temper .. .. 9 

In an Attic .. .. 12 

In and Out of a Punt 4 
In Chancery .. .. 121 

In Danger .. .. 127 

In for a Holiday .. 27 

In His Power .. .. 143 

In Honour Bound .. 22 

In Nelson’s Days .. 38 

In Possession .. 39 

In the Season .. .. 12 

In the Soup .. 132 

Incog.161 

In the Eyes of World 41 
In Two Minds.. .. 148 

Inspector .. .. 180 

Inspector (Operetta) 191 
Infatuation .. .. 109 

Interrupted Honey¬ 
moon .132 

Interview .. .. 4 

Ireland as It Was .. 168 
Irish Attorney .. 168 

Irish Doctor .. .. 168 

Irish Emigrant .. 168 
Irish Lion .. .. 169 

Irish Post .. .. 168 

Irish Tiger .. ..168 

Irish Tutor .. .. 168 

Irishman in London 168 
Ironfounder .. .. 127 

Isle of St. Tropez .. 91 



















INDEX. 


xi. 


PACK 


Ivanhoe (Extrava¬ 
ganza) .. .. 187 

I’ve Eaten my Friend 39 
I’ve Written to Browne 53 
Ixion .187 


Jack and the Bean¬ 
stalk . 

Jack and the Bean¬ 
stalk (Juvenile) .. 
Jack in a Box .. 

Jack of All Trades .. 
Jack the Giant Killer 
Jack White’s Trial .. 
Jacket of Blue 
Jack’s Delight 
Jacobite .. 

J ane . • • • «• 

Jealous Wife .. 
Jealousy ... .. 

Jeannette’s Wedding 
Jeannette’s Wedding 
Day .. . .. 
Jedbury Junior 
Jenny Foster 
Jerry and a Sunbeam 
Jessamy's Courtship 
Jessie Vere 
Jewel Maiden 
Jeweller of St. James’s 

Jilt . 

Jim the Penman 
Jocrisse the Juggler 
John A’Dreams 
John and Angelina 
John Bull .. 

John Dobbs .. 

John Jones .. •• 

John Smith .. .. 

JohnWopps .. 

Joint Household .. 
Jplliboys Woes .. 

Joseph Entangled .. 
Joseph in Egypt 
Journey’s End 

Judah . 

Judge . 

Judged by Appear¬ 
ances . 

Just as Well 

Just my Luck .. 


178 

179 
36 

160 

187 

22 

165 

58 

48 

85 

183 

192 

189 

189 

115 

165 

4 

27 

127 

191 

63 

127 

143 

82 

143 

191 

183 

67 

92 

75 

60 

148 

72 

115 

160 

38 

127 

132 

23 

4 

63 


Keeley Worried by 
Buckstone .. .. 157 

Keep your Eye on Her 31 
Keep your Temper .. 44 

Keeper of the Seals .. 40 

Kenilworth (Charade) 181 
Kenilworth (Bur¬ 
lesque) .. .. 187 

King and I .. .. 67 

King Alfred .. .. 179 

King Christmas .. 178 

King in Disguise .. 176 
K ng Rene’s Daughter 82 
K ss and be Friends 44 
Kiss in the Dark .. 27 

Kitty Clive .. .. 13 

Kleptomania .. .. 106 

Knave of Hearts .. 191 


La Hosiers .. .. 152 


PAGE 

La Somnambula .. 187 
Lad from the Country 31 
Ladies’ Battle (Robert¬ 
son) .68 

Ladies’Chance .. 191 
Lady Audley’s Secret 65 
Lady Burglar .. 11 

Lady by Birth .. 36 

Lady Cecil, The .. 176 
Lady Elizabeth Poole 
Gubbins .. .. 150 

Lady Ella .. .. 191 

Lady Fortune .. 48 

Lady Huntworth’s 
Experiment .. 86 

Lady in Search of 
an Heiress .. .. 150 

Lady Interviewer .. 148 
Lady Laura’s Land 191 

Lady of Lyons 
(Drama) .. .. 127 

Lady of Lyons (Bur¬ 
lesque) .. .. 187 

Lady of Lyons 
Married and Settled 187 
Lady Paddington .. 132 
Lady Windermere’s 

Fan .128 

Lame Excuse .. .. 50 

Lancashire Sailor .. 166 
Lancers (Drama) .. 163 
Larkin’s Love Letters 31 
Last of the Pigtails.. 72 
Late Lamented .. 107 
Late Mr. Gastello .. 60 

Late Sir Benjamin.. 10 
Laugh When You Can 183 
Laughing Hyena ... 18 

Laurence’s Love Suit 58 
Law versus Love .. 29 

Leading Strings .. 63 

Leap It ear .. .. 4 

Leave It to Me .. 50 

Left the Stage .. 156 
Legacy of Honour .. 102 
Legal Impediment .. 88 

Lend Me Five 

Shillings .. .. 67 

Leonore.29 

Lesson in Harmony.. 13 

Lesson in Love .. 47 

Liars, The .. .. 121 

Liberty Hall .. .. 98 

Lights Out .. .. 44 

Lina and Gertrude.. 152 
Linked by Love .. 63 

Lion at Bay .. .. 163 

Lion Slayer .. .. 50 

Little Annie’s Birthday 9 
Little Lack Parlour.. 3L 
Little Change .. 31 

Little Daisy .. .. 69 

Little Don Giovanni 187 

Little Folks’ Work 176 

Little Girl Who Tells 

Fibs .154 

Little Giselle .. 187 

Little Ini ruder .. 132 
Little Lord Fauntle- 

roy .117 

Little Madcap .. 38 

Little Miss Muffet 148 

Little Mother .. 69 

Little Nut Tree .. 178 


PAGE 

Little Rebel .. .. 60 

Little Red Riding 
Hood (Fairy) .. 178 
Little Savage .. .. 50 

Little Sentinel .. 36 

Little Sins and 
Pretty Sinners .. 105 
Little Toddlekins .. 48 

Little Treasure .. 73 

Little Tyrant .. .. 176 

Loan of a Lover .. 189 

Locksmith .. .. 180 

Lodgers and Dodgers 51 

Lodgings for Single 
Gentlemen .. .. 44 

Lodgings to Let .. 191 
London Assurance .. 122 
Long Odds .. .. 116 

Look before You Leap 160 
Loose Tiles .. .. 1^4 

Lord Lovell .. .. 187 

Lost and Found .. 189 
Lost Ship .. .. 166 

Lot 49.67 

Lottery Ticket .. 31 

Louis XI. .. .. 163 

Love and Dentistry 4 

Love and Rain ,. 1 

Love Chase .. .. 183 

Love Game .. .. 4 

Love in Humble Life 26 
Love in Idleness .. 137 
Love Suit .. .. 5 

Love’s Alarms .. 29 

Love’s Sacrifice .. 116 
Love’s Telegraph .. 47 

Love’s Test .. .. 5 

Love Wins .. .. 77 

Lovers’ Knots .. 19l 
Lover by Proxy .. 98 

Loving Cup .. .. 78 

Lucia di Lammermoor 
(Burlesque) .. 187 
Lucky Dog .. .. 132 

Lucky Escape .. 26 

Lucky Hit .. .. 25 

Lucky Miss Dean .. 53 

Lucky Sixpence ... 51 

Lucretia Borgia 
(Burlesque) .. 187 

Luke the Labourer 117 

Lunatic .. .. 10 

Lyrical Lover .. 5 


Mad as a Hatter 
Mademoiselle 
Squallino 
Magda ... ... 

Maggie’s Situation.. 
Magic Kiss 
Magician and Ring.. 
Magistrate ... .. 
Maid and Magpie 
(Burlesque) 

Maid and Blackbird 
Maid of Honour 
Major and Miner 
Make your Wills 
Make your Wills 
Make Yourself at 
Home 

Maker of Men .. 

Man about Town 


67 

156 

143 

42 

176 

176 

122 

187 

191 

29 

41 

80 

159 

31 

5 

80 













Xll, 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Man frorz. Blankley’s 138 
Man in the Street .. 15 

Man of Ideas .. .. 57 

Man of Many Friends 122 
Man of the World .. 183 
Man Proposes 

(Grundy) .. .. 10 

Man Proposes .. 47 

Man Shadow .. .. 144 

Man Who Follows 
Ladies .. .. 1 

Man Who Wasn’t .. 27 

Man Who Stole the 
Castle .. .. 54 

Man with Carpet Bag 119 
Man with Three 

Wives .. .. 122 

Manoeuvres of Jane 122 
Marble Arch .. .. 20 

Margate Sands .. 28 

Margery Daw .. 31 

Maria .156 

Marriage .. .. 180 

Marriage (M.S.) .. 144 

Marriage at Any Price 75 
Marriage has been 
Arranged .. .. 5 

Marriage of Conveni¬ 
ence .93 

M arriage of Kitty .. 138 
Married Bachelor .. 80 

Married for Money 63 
Married Life .. .. 95 

Married Rake .. 28 

Martyr to Science .. 159 
Mary and Sairey .. 191 
Mary Queen of Scots 128 
Masque of May .. 191 
Master .. ... .. 138 

Master Jones’s Birth¬ 
day .51 

Matchlock .. .. 180 

Matchmaker .. .. 106 

Matrimonial Agency 73 
Maud’s Peril .. ..91 

May, or Dolly’s 
Delusion .. .. 91 

Mazeppa (Burlesque) 187 
Meadowsweet .. 55 

Medea (Burlesque) 187 
Medea (Tragedy) .. 92 

Meddle and Muddle 44 
Meeting .. .. 1 

Meg’s Diversion .. 78 

Mem. VII.20 

Member for Slocum 132 
Mere Man .. .. 151 

Merely Mary Ann .. 138 
Merrifield’s Ghost .. 25 

Merry Meeting .. 28 

Merry Widow .. 95 

Mice and Men .. 114 
Middleman .. .. 144 

Middy Ashore .. 166 
Midnight .. .. 180 

Midnight Watch .. 163 

Midsummer Day < .. 47 

Midsummer Frolic .. 176 
Milky White .. .. 65 

Miller and his Men 
(Burlesque) _ .. 187 

Milliner’s Holiday 105 
Minerali .. .. Ill 


PAGE 


Minstrel or Prince .. 176 
Mint of Money .. 133 
Miriam’s Crime .. 70 

Mirror of Time .. 5 

Mischief Making .. 84 

Miser .70 

Miserable .. .. 180 

Miss Chester .. .. HO 

Miss Cleopatra .. 100 
Miss Flipper’s 

Holiday .. .. 150 

Miss Hobbs .. .. 96 

Miss Honey’s Treasure 148 
Miss Tibbet’s Back 

Hair .32 

Mistake.181 

Mistaken Identity .. 148 
Mistletoe Bough 

(Fairy) .. .. 118 

Mistress and Man .. 177 
Mixed Addresses .. 155 

Mock Turtles .. .. 191 

Model Husband .. 51 

Model of a Wife .. 172 
Molientrave on 
W omen .. _ .. 115 

Momentous Question 70 

Money .122- 

Moneymakers .. 133 
Money Spinner .. 79 

Monsieur Jacques .. 172 
Montcalm .. .. 110 

Month after Date .. 26 

More Blunders than 

One .168 

More Free than Wel¬ 
come .156 

More Precious than 
Gold .. .. .. 64 

More than Ever .. 182 

Moss Rose Rent .. 192 

Mother and Child 
Doing Well .. .. 75 

Mother-in-Law .. 133 
Mother of Three .. 138 

Moths .144 

M.P.93 

Mr. Fitz W.191 

Mr. Joffins’Latch-key 18 
Mr. and Mrs. Muffitt 6 
Mr. Scroggins'* .. 44 

Mr. Steinmann’s 
Corner .. .. 22 

Mrs. Dane’s Defence 116 
Mrs. Dexter .. .. 133 

Mrs. Green’s Little 

Bs’ns.39 

Mrs. Hilary Regrets 13 
Mrs. or Miss .. .. 5 

Mrs. Smim .. .. 119 

Mrs. White .. .. 44 

Mrs. Willis’s Will .. 151 
Much too Clever .. 86 

Mudboro’ Election .. 67 

Mummy .. .. 80 

Music hath Charms 64 
My Artful A^a'et .. 133 
My Aunt’s Heiress .. 153 
My Aunt’s Husband 59 
My Awful Dad .. 122 
My Bachelor Days .. 67 

My Cousin .. .. 60 

M^ Daughter's 
Daughter .. ..153 


PAGE 

My Daughter’s Debut 172 
My Dress Boots .. 44 

My H'eilow Clerk .. 97 

My First Client .. 1 

My First Fit of the 

Gout.32 

My Friend from 
Leatherhead .. 32 

My Friend Jarlet .. 26 

My Great Aunt .. 107 
My Heart’s Idol .. 101 
My Heart’s in the 
Highlands .. .. 171 

My Husband’s Secret 28 
My Innocent Boy .. lo5 
My Lady Help .. 13 

My Little Girl .. 38 

My Lord in Livery .. 60 

My Milliner’s Bill .. 2 

My New Maid .. 191 
My Poll and my 
Partner Joe .. .. 166 

My Precious Betsy.. 73 
My Preserver .. 96 

My Pretty Maid .. 138 
My Sister from India 58 
My Soldier Boy .. 98 

My Son and I .. .. 16 

My Sweetheart .. 99 

My Turn Next.. .. 61 

My Uncle, the Ghost 191 
My Very l ast Proposal 32 
My Wife’s Bonnet .. 58 

My Wife’s Daughter 86 
My Wife’s Dentist .. 61 

My Wife’s Father’s 

Sister.47 

My Wife’s Maid .. 61 

My Wife’s Mother .. 65 

My Wife’s Out .. 18 

My Wife’s Relations 95 
My Wife’s Second 

Floor.61 

My Wife ! What Wife ? 119 
My Young Wife and 
My Old Umbrella 39 
Mystery of Muddle- 

witz ..152 

Mystification .. .. 5 


N abob for an Hour .. 32 

Nancy and Co. .. 139 
Narrow Escape .. 148 
Narrow Squeak .. 100 
Naval Engagement* 53 

Near Shave .. .. 191 

Nearly Severed .. 22 

Neighbours .. .. 77 

Neither of Them .. 16 

Nell .191 

Nervous Man .. .. 119 

Nettle . 6 

Neuchar’s Junction 13 

Never Reckon your 
Chickens .. .. 58 

New Boy .. .. 89 

New Clown .. .. 133 

New Footman .. 51 
New Groom .. .. 47 

Nev- A 4en and Old 
Acres, la. .. *.123 

New Sub •• .. 94 


















INDEX, 


xiii. 


PAGE 

New Way to Pay 
Old Debts .. ..183 

New Woman .. .. 139 

Newington Butts .. 32 

Newspaper Nuptials 18 
Next of Kin .. ..103 

Nice Firm .. .. 103 

Nice Quiet Chat .. 150 

Nice Quiet Day .. 75 

Nicolete .. .. 22 

Night at Notting Hill 32 
Night of the Party 134 
Night of Suspense .. 147 
Night on Snowdon .. 156 
Night Off .. ..139 

Nightingale .. .. 180 

Nightmare .. .. 180 

Nine Days’ Wonder 87 
Nine Points of the 

Law .64 

Ninth Waltz .. .. 6 

Niobe. 113 

Nita’s First .. .. 113 

Nit a, the Dancer .. 15 

Noblesse Oblige .. 79 

No Cards .. .. 192 

Noemie.74 

No. 1, Round the 
Corner .. .. 155 

No. 17 149 

No. 6, Duke Street .. 51 

No Song, No Supper 189 

Norah .13 

Norma Travestie .. 187 
Not at all Jealous .. 44 

Not so Bad after All 106 
Not Such a Fool as 
He Looks .. .. 86 

Not to be Done .. 85 
Nothing to Nurse .. 45 

Nothing Venture, No¬ 
thing Win .. .. 70 

Nursery Chickweed 51 
Nursery Rhymia .. 179 
Nursery Pastoral .. 179 
Nymph of Lurleyberg 187 


Obliging a Friend 

• • 

28 

Object of Interest 
Observation and 

• • 

61 

Flirtation 

• • 

47 

Obstinate Family 


45 

Obstinate Woman 

• • 

150 

Odd Lot .. 

• • 

45 

Odd Trick 

• • 

25 

Of Noble Birth 

• • 

158 

Off Duty 

• • 

53 

Oh! Susannah! 

• • 

105 

Old and Young 

• • 

51 

Old Chateau .. 

• • 

111 

Old Cronies .. 

• • 

155 

Old Friends .. 

• • 

20 

Old Garden 

• • 

22 

Old Gooseberry 

• • 

51 

Old Heidelberg 

• • 

144 

Old Honesty .. 

• • 

70 

Old King Cole 

# m 

191 

Old Knockles .. 


192 

Old Love and 

the 


New 


139 

Old Love Letters 

• • 

6 

Old Man .. 

• • 

79 

Old Moss 

• • 

82 


PAGE 

Old Phil’s Birthday 70 

Old Poz .. .. 


179 

Old Sailors .. 


77 

Old Sarah .. 


191 

Old Score .. 


91 

Old Soldiers .. 

• • 

89 

Old Story 

• • 

96 

Old Trusty .. 

• • 

65 

Olla Podrida 

• • 

191 

Omnibus .. 


169 

On an Island .. 


6 

On and Off .. 


61 

On Bail .. .. 


123 

On ’Change .. 

• • 

107 

On Guard .. 


81 

On the Sly .. 

• • 

32 

Once a Week .. 

• • 

32 

Once Again 

• • 

13 

One of the Best 


144 

One of You Must 
Marry. 

22 


One Summer’s Day 114 
One too Many.. .. 51 

One too Many.. .. 192 

One too Many for Him 28 
One Touch of Nature 41 
Only a Halfpenny .. 18 

Only a Jest .. .. 153 

Only Amateurs .. 6 

OorGeordie .. ..171 

’Op-o’-Me-Thumb 42 
Open Door .. ..6 

Open Cate .. .. 22 

Optical Delusion .. 18 
Orange Blossoms .. 47 

Organ Grinder .. 179 
Orpheus and Eurydice 187 
Other Woman.. .. 149 
Our Aunt from Cali¬ 
fornia .151 

Our Bazaar .. .. 191 

Our Bitterest Foe .. 15 
Our Boys .. .. 98 

Our Clerks .. .. 115 

Our Domestics .. 113 
Our Flat .. .. 134 

Our Lottie .. .. 66 

Our Nelly .. .. 99 

Our New Butler .. 9 

Our New Man .. 23 

Our Pet.89 

Our Regiment .. 98 
Our Relatives .. .. 36 

Our Toys .. ..191 

Our Wife .. .. 94 

Ours .101 

Outlaw.180 

Outlaw of Adriatic .. 128 

Outrage.181 

Out of Frying-pan .. 68 
Outwitted .. .. 10 


P.TT.P. .. ... .. 155 

Pacha of Pimlico .. 67 
Packing Up .. .. 11 

Paddy Carey .. .. 169 

Paddy Miles .. .. 169 

Painless Dentistry .. 39 

Painter of Ghent .. 70 

Pair of Knickerbockers 2 
Pair of Lunatics .. 6 

Pair of Spectacles .. 110 
Palace of Truth .. 187 


PAGE 

Palmistry .. .. 6 

Pantomime Rehearsal 184 
Papa’s Wife .. .. 191 

Paper Chase .. .. ya 

Parted.102 

Partners .. .. 139 

Partners for Life .. 107 

Parvenu .. .. 64 

Passport .. ..123 

Patient, The .. .. 191 

Patient Penelope .. 187 
Patron Saint .. .. 47 

Patter versus Clatter 67 
Paul Pry (Jerrold) .. 93 
Paul Pry (Poole), Is. 183 
Paul Pry Married 
and Settled.. .. 39 

Paul’s Return .. 114 

Payable on Demand 83 
Peace at Any Price.. 2 

Peace and Quiet .. 61 

Peacock’s Holiday .. 82 
Peasant Queen .. 152 
Peculiar Proposals .. 45 

Peep Show Man .. 103 

Peggy G-reen .. .. 128 

Penelope .. .. 191 

Penrudge vPrettiwon 119 
Pepperpot’s Little 

Pets .61 

Perfect Cure .. .. 16 

Perfect Lover .. 128 
Perfection .. .. 36 

Personation .. .. 2 

Peter Smink .. .. 71 

Petticoat Government 51 
Petticoat Perfidy .. 150 
Phaeton • .. .. 180 

Phantom Breakfast 28 
Phenomenon in 
Smock Frock .. 55 

Photographic Fix .. 32 
Pickpocket .. ..116 

Pied Piper .. .. 191 

Pierrot and Pierette 6 
Pike O’Callaghan .. 169 
Pilkerton’s Peerage 139 
Pills of Wisdom .. 158 
Pipkin's Rustic Re¬ 
treat .75 

Pity .65 

Pity of It .. ..23 

Plaintiff .. .. 180 

Plaintiff .. .. 181 

Play .110 

Playing with Fire .. 96 

Playmates .. .. 6 

Pleasant Dreams .. 80 
Pleasant Neighbour 32 
Plot and Counterplot 109 
Plot and Passion .. 94 
Plot for Plot .. .. 6 

Plot of Potzentausend 161 
Plots for Petticoats 67 
Poisoned .. .. 159 

Polly ..154 

Poor Cousin Walter 65 
Poor Gentleman .. 183 

Poor Nobleman .. 91 

Poor Old Perkins .. 96 

Poor Pillicoddy .. 28 

Poor Relation .. 161 

Poor Soldier .. .. 189 

Popocatapet! .. 190 





















INDEX 


xir. 


. PAGE 

Popping the Question 42 
Poppleton’s Pre¬ 
dicaments .. ..84 

Pork Chops .. .. 23 

Port Admiral .. 182 
Porter’s Knot .. 104 
Post Boy .. .. 79 

Post of Honour .. 163 
Postscript .. .. 20 

Postmark ... .. 180 

Pouter’s Wedding .. 75 

Practical Man .. 81 

Presumptive Evi¬ 
dence .. .. 166 

Pretty Horse-breaker 119 
Pretty Jane .. .. 182 

Pretty Piece of Busi¬ 
ness .. . .. .. 29 

Pretty Predicaments 172 
Pretty Princess and 
Prickly Pear .. 179 

Pride and Vanity .. 153 
Prima Donna .. 53 

Prince for an Hour.. 83 
Prince Nysey Nosey 179 
Prince or Peasant .. 177 
Princess Charming 187 
Princess Marguerite’s 
Choice .. .. 177 

Prior Claim .. .. 150 

Prisoner of War .. 163 

Prisoner of Zenda .. 145 
Private Secretary .. 134 
Private View .. 45 

Privy Council .. 58 

Professor .. .. 134 

Profligate .. 115 

Progress .. .. 103 

Proof .128 

Provoked Husband 183 
Prude’s Progress .. 108 
Prying Little Girl .. 153 

Punch .108 

Punctured ... .. 2 

Purely Platonic .. 20 

Puss in Boots .. .. 179 

Pygmalion and 

Galatea ... .. 187 

Pyramus and Thisbe 157 


. E. D.29 

iiaker.190 

Quarrel of the 
Flowers .. .. 153 

Quarrel of the 
Flowers (Operetta) 191 
Queen of Arragon .. 36 

Queen of Hearts .. 190 
Queen’s Favourite .. 139 
Queen’s Messenger .. 8 

Queer Street .. .. 55 

Quid pro Quo .. .. 191 

Quiet Family .. .. 73 


Race for a "Dinner .. 158 


Race for a Widow .. 85 
Rain Clouds .. .. 6 

Rainy Day ... .. 10 

Raising the Wind .. 92 

Randall’ Thumb .. 116 

Rats . 2 

Real and Ideal .. 68 


Ready Money 

PAGE 

.. .. 99 

Rebellion 

.. 180 

Red Lamp 

.. .. 145 

Regular Fix 

.. .. 97 

Rendezvous 

.. .. 75 

Rest Cure 

.. 2 

Retained for 

the 

Defence 

.. 66 

Retained on 

Both 


Sides .191 

Retaliation .. .. 36 

Retiring .. .. 101 

Retribution ...... 70 

Return of the Fairies 191 
Return Ticket .. .. 51 

Review.100 

Richard’s Play .. 20 
Richard Wye .. .. 41 

Richelieu .. .. 128 

Rifle, and How to 
Use It .. ..61 

Ring and the Keeper 190 
Rival Pages .. .. 69 

Rival Pages .. .. 158 

Rivals .. .. .. 183 

Road to Ruin .. .. 183 

Robber, The .. .. 191 

Robber’s Wife.. .. 118 
Robert Macaire (Bur¬ 
lesque) ... .. 187 

Robert Macaire 

(Drama) .. .. 112 

Robin Goodfellow .. 145 
Robin Hood (Bur¬ 
lesque .. .. 187 

Robinson Crusoe 
(Burlesque) .. .. 188 

Rocket .. ... .. 108 

Roland for an Oliver 79 
Roman Actor .. .. 158 

Romance under Diffi¬ 
culties .. .. 23 

Romantic Attachment 48 
Romantic Idea .. 55 

Romulus and Remus 188 
Rory O’More .. .. 169 

Rose of Auvergne .. 191 
Rosebud of Stinging- 
nettle Farm .. 182 
Rosencrantz and 

Guildenstern .. 77 

Rough Diamond .. 55 

Roundhead .. .. 70 

Ruined by Drink .. 174 
Rule Britannia .. 172 
Rule of Three .. .. 66 

Rumplestiltskin (Ex¬ 
travaganza) .. .. 179 

Rupert the Reckless 182 
Ruth’s Romance 13 

Ruy Bias .. ..128 


Sad Memories .. .. 15 

Sailor of France .. 166 
Saints and Sinners.. 128 
Salt of Life .. .. 8 

Sample v. Pattern .. 155 
Sam’s Arrival .. .. 67 

Samuel in Search of 
Himself .. .. 61 

Sang-Azure .. .. 191 

Sarah’s Young Man 45 
Saturday to Monday 140 


PAGE 

Saved .. **• ,.91 

Scapegoat .. ..52 

School .123 

School Bored .. .. 158 

School for Coquettes 48 
School for Daughters 152 
School for Scandal .. 183 
Schoolfellows .. .. 123 

Schoolmistress .. 123 
Scrap of Paper .. 114 
Sea Flower .. .. 140 

Sea Gulls .. .. 33 

Second Love .. .. 65 

Second Thoughts .. 10 

Secret .62 

Secret Agent .. .. 77 

Secrets of the Heart 191 
Secret Service .. 129 
Semi-Detached .. 6 

Senior Wranglers .. 155 
Send 30 Stamps .. 11 

Send to the Tower .. 157 
Separate Maintenance 57 

Serf .117 

Sergeant’s Wedding 163 

Sergeant’s Wife .. 163 
Serious Family .. 106 
Setting of the Sun .. 23 

Settling of the Verdict 160 
Seven Clerks .. .. 112 

Shades of Night .. 20 

Shadows .. .. 82 

Shadows of the Past 65 

Shameful Behaviour 172 
Sharp Practice .. 70 

Shattered Nerves .. 149 
Shaughraun .. .. 169 

She Stoops to Conquer 183 
She Would and He 
Wouldn’t .. .. 103 

She Would and She 
Wouldn’t .. ..183 

Sheep in Wolf’s Cloth¬ 
ing .109 

Shelter. 6 

Shepherd of Cour- 
nouailles .. .. 190 

Shipmates .. .. 91 

Shockheaded Peter.. 146 
Shopwalker .. .. 140 

Short and Sweet .. 48 

Should This Meet the 

Eye .81 

Show of Hands .. 7 

Showman’s Daughter 140 
Siamese Twins .. 169 
Silent Protector .. 33 

Silent System .. 45 

Silent Woman .. 11 

Silken Fetters .. 90 

Silver Keepsake .. 7 

Silver King .. .. 129 

Silver Lining .. .. 84 

Silver Shield .. ..96 

Simple Sweep .. 191 

Simpson and Co. .. 73 

Sins of the Fathers .. 36 
Sink or Swim .. .. 82 

Sister’s Penance .. 102 
Sisterly Service .. 163 
Six and Eightpence.. 13 
Six Persons .. .. 7 

Sixes and Sevens .. 7 

Sixpenny Telegram.. 10 

















INDEX. 


XV, 


PAGE 

Slasher and Crasher.. 67 
Sleepers Awakened 177 
Sleeping Beauty 
(Fairy) .. .. 179 

Sleeping Draught 

(Charade) .. .. 180 

Sleeping Hare .. 90 

Slice of Luck .. .. 62 

Slice of Luck .. .. 191 

Slight Mistake .. 162 
Slight Mistakes .. 92 

Slighted Treasures .. lo2 
Slowtop’s Engage¬ 
ments .. .. ' .. 18 

Smoked Miser.. .. 68 

Snowball .. .. 64 

Snowed Dp with a 
Duchess .. .. 150 

Snowdrift .. .. 112 

Snowdrop and Seven 
Little Men .. 146 
Snowstorm .. .. 8 

Snowwhite .. .. 177 

Snug Little Kingdom 59 
Social G-lass .. .. 174 

Society, Is.123 

So’d Again .. .. 56 

Solicitor .. .. 123 

Somebody Else .. 33 

Something to do .. 81 

Son of the Soil .. 118 

Sophia .140 

Sour Grapes .. .. 124 

Southerner .. .. 68 

Sowing the Wind .. 116 

Spanking Legacy .. 56 

Special Performances 109 
Spectre Bridegroom .. 68 
Speed the Plough .. 183 
Spitalfields Weaver 41 
Spoiled Child .. 85 

Sporting Simpson .. 134 
Sportsman .. .. 134 

Spring and Autumn 65 

Squire .110 

Staff of Diamonds .. 166 
Stage Struck 
(Charade) .. .. 180 

State Prisoner.. .. 26 

State Secrets .. .. 69 

Steeplechase .. .. 117 

Steeplejack .. .. 20 

StepSister .. .. 29 

Still Waters Run Deep 111 
St. Patrick’s Day .. 169 
St. Patrick’s Eve .. 169 

Stolen Kisses .. .. 79 

Stolen—£20 Reward 56 
Storm in a Teacup .. 20 

Strange Relation .. 149 
Such is Fame .. .. 151 

Sudden Arrival .. 160 
Sudden Squall .. 7 

Sudden Thoughts .. 75 

Sugar and Cream .. 21 
Suit of Tweeds .. 92 

Summon ed to Court.. 52 

Superior Miss 

Pellender.. 140 

Bundav.145 

Sunlight and Shadow 79 
Sunnyside .. .. 10 

Sunset .48 

Sunshin* .. .. 86 


PAGE 

Sunshine through the 
Clouds .. .. 49 

Superior Person .. 149 

Supper for Two .. 157 
Swanhild .. .. 191 

Sweet Lavender .. 109 
Sweet Nancy .. ..141 

Sweet Will .. .. 27 

Sweethearts .. .. 21 

Sweethearts and Wives 87 
Swiss Cottage .. .. 190 

Swiss Swains .. .. 190 

Sybilla .94 

Sylvester Daggerwood 157 
Sympathetic Souls .. 21 


Take Care of Dowb .. 61 

Take that Girl Away 65 
Taken by Storm .. 13 

Taken for Granted .. 7 

Taken from French 37 
Tale of a Comet .. 62 
Tally Ho .. .. 192 

Talisman .. .. 161 

Taming a Tiger .. 157 
Taming the Truant .. 61 

Tares .145 

Teacher Taught .. 33 

Teddy the Tiler .. 169 
Tempest in Teacups.. 191 
Temperance Doctor.. 175 
Ten Dancing Prin¬ 
cesses .... .. 179 

Ten Nights in a Bar 

Room.175 

Ten Tortured Tutors 159 
Ten Years Hence .. 154 
Terrible Secret .. 18 

Terrible Tinker .. 89 

Test of Truth .. .. 118 

That Af air at Finchley 45 
That Blessed Baby .. 45 

That Brute Simmons 11 
That Dreadful Doctor 14 
That Rascal Pat .. 169 
Their New Paying 
Guest .. ..151 

There and Back .. 134 
Theory and Practice 7 
Third Time .. .. 14 

Thirty-three Next 

Birthday .. .. 52 

Thorough Base .. 12 

Those Landladies .. 149 
Three Bi nd Mice .. 2 

Three Cuckoos .. 33 

Three Fairy Gifts .. 177 
Three Hats .. .. 87 

Three Tenants .. 192 
Thrice Married .. 71 

Through Fire and 

Water.65 

Thrown Together .. 7 

Through the Fire .. 84 

Thumping Legacy .. 83 

Ticket of Leave .. 39 

Ticket-of-Leave Man, 

Is.118 

Ticklish Times .. 62 

Till the Half Hour .. 14 

Time and the Hour .. 102 
Time is Money .. 9 

Time will Tell .. 103 


PAGE 

Time Works Wonders, 

Is.124 

Times .124 

Timothy to the Rescue 52 
Timour the Tartar 
(Burlesque) .. .. 188 

Timson’s Little Holi¬ 
day .62 

Tit for Tat .. ..90 

Title .77 

To Oblige Benson .. 37 

To Parents and Guar¬ 
dians .173 

To Paris and Back 

for £5.104 

Tom Bowling .. .. 166 

Tom Cobb .. .. 99 

Tom Cringle .. .. 166 

Tom, Dick and Harry 116 
Tom Noddy’s Secret 33 
Tom Pinch .. .. 107 

Tom Thrasher.. .. 166 

Tom Thumb .. .. 188 

Tomkins Troubadour 33 
Too Happy by Half.. 25 
Too Many Cooks .. 149 
Too much for Good 
Nature .. .. 105 

Too much of a Good 

Thing.49 

Tourist Ticket.. .. 86 

ToyShop .. .. 179 

Tragedy.99 

Transferred Ghost .. 191 
Tree of Knowledge .. 145 
Trials of Tompkins .. 33 

Trilbv .146 

Trombalcazar .. .. 190 

True Colours .. .. 21 

Trying It On .. .. 45 

Turkish Bath .. .. 71 

Turned Head .. .. 71 

Turn Him Out .. 33 

Turned Up .. .. 124 

Turning the Tables.. 75 
Twenty Minutes under 
an Umbrella .. .. 7 

Twenty Minutes with 
a Tiger .. .. 33 

Tweedleton’s Tail Coat 52 
Twice Killed .. .. 89 

Twice Told Tale .. 28 

Twilight.15 

Twins .124 

Two Blinds .. .. 155 

Two Bonnycastles .. 45 
Two Brothers .. .. 160 

Two Chums .. .. 177 

Two Gallev Slaves .. 94 

Two Gay Deceivers 157 
Two Gents in a Fix 155 
Two Grevories.. .. 52 

Two Heads are Better 
than One .. .. 40 

Two in the Morning.. 156 
Two Jolly Bachelors 149 
Two Mi«ses Thbetson 150 
Two Naughty Old 
Ladies .. .. 27 

Two on a ’Bus .. 2 

Two Photographs .. 21 

Two Princesses .. 177 

Two Pros . ..156 

Two Puddifoots .. 46 















rvi 


INDEX, 


PAGE 

Two Roses, 1«.87 

Two Sisters .. .. 154 

Two to One .. .. 170 

Tyranny of Tears .. 64 

Tyrant Slave, eto. .. 182 


Ugly Customer .. 84 

Uncle .64 

Uncle Dick’s Darling 141 
Uncle Samuel .. .. 191 

Uncle Zachary .. 94 

Uncle’s Will .. ..14 

Uncles and Aunts .. 135 
Under the Red Robe 146 
Under the Rose .. 18 

Unfinished Gentle¬ 
men .. .. .. Ill 

Unhappy Princess .. 179 
Unlimited Confidence 37 
Unlucky Friday .. 66 

Unwarrantable Intru¬ 
sion .156 

Up a Tree .. .. 62 

Up for the Cattle 

Show.81 

Up in the World .. 68 

Up Stairs and Down 

Stairs.68 

Up-to-Date .. .. 151 

Up to Town and Back 155 
Upper Crust .. .. 135 

Urgent Private Affairs 62 
Used up.93 

Value of Truth .. 154 
Vandyke Brown .. 46 

Verger .192 

Very Last Days of 
Pompeii .. .. 188 

Very Pleasant Even’g 157 
Very Serious Affair 34 
Veteran of 102 .. 164 

Vice Versa . .. .. 93 

Victor Vanquished 25 
Village Lawyer .. 81 

Village Nightingale 82 
Village Priest .. 146 
Villain and Victim .. 7 

Villikins and Dinah 188 
Vingt-et-un .. .. 191 

Vol. III. ... .. 14 

Volunteer Review .. 113 

Walker, London .. 135 
Walls of Jericho .. 129 
Wally and the Widow 7 
Waltz by Arditi .. 173 
Wandering Boys .. Ill 
Wandering Minstrel 62 


Wanted — A Young 

Lady.12 

Wanted 1,000 Milliners 95 

War .85 

War to the Knife .. 87 
Was I to Blame? .. 40 

Water Witches .. 119 
Waterman (Operetta) 190 
Wayfarers .. .. 26 

Wayside Cottage .. 14 

Waxworks Revels .. 179 
We All have our 
Little Faults .. 34 

Weak Woman .. .. 90 


Weaker Sex .. .. 129 

Wearing of the Green 179 

Weathercock .. .. 92 

Weather or No .. 191 
Wedding Guest .. 191 
Wedding March .. 124 

Weeds .14 

Well Matched.. .. 14 

Well Played .. .. 18 

What Greater Love ? 15 

Wheels within Wheels 141 
When I’m a Man .. 177 
When I’m Grown Up 177 
When the Wheels Run 
Down .. .. 150 

When We were 
Twenty-one .. .. 124 

Where there’s a Will, 

etc. .83 

Where’s your Wife ? 34 

Which ?.62 

Which is Which ? .. 48 

Which of the Two ? .. 164 
Which shall I Marry ? 12 

Whitebait at Green¬ 
wich .84 

White Cat (Extrava¬ 
ganza) .179 

White Cockade .. 129 
White Horse of 
Peppers .. .. 170 

White Stocking .. 26 

Whitewashing Julia 124 
Whittington, Junior 
(Burlesque) .. 188 

Who do They Take 
Me for? .. .. 170 

Who Killed Cock 
Robin ? .. .. 18 

Who Speaks First?.. 37 

Who Stole the Clock ? 190 
Who Stole the Pocket 
Book ? .. .. 62 

Who’s my Husband ? 75 

Who’s to Inherit ? .. 152 

Who’s to Win Him? 72 


Who’s the Heir ? .. 190 

Who’s Who? .. ..34 

Why Women Weep .. 37 

Who Won? .. ..16 

Wicked Wife .. .. 71 

Wicked World.. .. 84 

Widow Bewitched •• 28 
Widow’s Victim .. 46 

Wife’s Portrait .. 85 
Wife’s Secret, Is. .. 118 

Wild Flowers .. .. 29 

Wild Oats .. .. 183 

Wilderness .. .. 124 

Wild Swans .. .. 191 

Wilful Murder .. 92 

Wilful Ward .. ..40 

William Simpson .. 48 

William Tell (Bur¬ 
lesque) .. .. 188 

William Tell with a 
Vengeance .. .. 188 

Winning a Wife .. 10 

Winning Hazard .. 37 
Wisdom of Folly .. 76 

Witch of Windermere 79 
Withered Leaves .. 54 

Woman’s Proper Place 7 
Woman’s Reason .. 146 
Woman’s Rights .. 37 

Woman Triumphant 149 
Woman’s Wrongs .. 16 

Woman of World 


(Com.).125 

Woman that was a 

Cat .19 

Won at Last .. .. 102 

Wonderful Cure .. 153 

Wonderful Woman .. 91 
Woodbarrow Farm .. 129 
Woodman .. .. 181 

Wooing One’s Wife .. 52 
Word of Honour .. 83 

Work-Box .. .. 41 

World of Fashion .. 105 
Worn out Shoes .. 191 
Worth a Struggle .. 88 
Wrinkles .. .. 82 

Written in Sand .. 37 

Wrong Side of the 

Road .. .. 2 


Yellow Dwarf (Fairy 

Ex.) .179 

Yellow Roses .. .. 8 

Yeoman’s Service .. 64 

Young Mother .. 65 

Young Mrs. Winthrop 88 
Young Widow .. ..19 

Your Life’s in Danger 46 
Your Vote and Interest 68 















For prices of Plays described in this Guide see our General 
Catalogue, copy o-f which is sent Free to any address upon request 


TWO CHARACTERS. 

ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE. 
FARCES. 


fcet of Piracy. 1 Act. By Leopold 
Montague. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Dago- 
bert calls "upon Lily to be photo¬ 
graphed in a pirate costume he is 
using in private theatricals. Lily has 
a twin sister, Violet, who is exactly 
like her, and Dagobert encountering 
the latter ‘mistakes her for Lily. 

Accepted by Proxy. 1 Act. By 
Eliss Kinsley. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Lady. Sophy 
Carew, who lives with her aunt, dresses 
as an old woman for Amateur Theatri¬ 
cals when she is interrupted by God¬ 
frey Thorne, an old admirer of her 
aunt’s, and who has returned from 
Africa after 20 years’ absence. He 
mistakes her for her aunt, proposes to 
her, and is Accepted by Proxy. 

Collaborators. i Act. By Daisy 
McGeoch. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian: 1 Lady Comedian. Mary and 
Reginald decide to write a play. The 
former is full of striking situations and 
dramatic ideas. Neither the one nor 
the other appeals ‘n Reginald, and he 
concludes the on) play for him to 
attempt is the duologue “ Matrimony," 
with Mary and himself in the two 
parts. 

Dentist. By Frank Lindo. Modern 
Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Gerald Armstrong is in 
love with Mabel Nicholson, and gains 
his suit by pretending to be a dentist, 
after she had feigned a toothache. 

First Aid to the Wounded. 1 Act. 
By Harold Montague. Time, 20 
min. Modern Costume. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. As the result of a bicycle 
accident, Mr. Martin arrives at Dr. 
Raw'son’s for medical treatment. The 
doctor is not in, but his daughter, 
masquerading in a nurse’s uniform 
for a fancy dress ball, renders first 
aid to the wounded in an amusing 
manner. 

Gentleman Jim. 1 Act. By W. R. 
Walkes. Modern Costumes. Time. 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene. 1 Comedian. 
1 Lady Comedian. Miss Sinclair, a 
lady journalist, is left quite alone in 
her flat, and reads about a burglar who 
has been infesting the neighbourhood 
and always goes about in evening 
dress. Jack Alverdon finds his way 
into her rooms by mistake, and is 
promptly taken for the burglar. 

He, She, and It. 1 Act. By W. Mus- 
kerry. Modern Costume. Time, 15 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian: 1 Lady 
B 


Comedian. A wife is sitting up for her 
husband, much aggrieved at his ab¬ 
sence, on the first anniversary of their 
wedding day. When he returns she 
refuses to let him speak a word in his 
defence. Finally he produces a brace¬ 
let which he had gone to procure for 
her, and which satisfactorily accounts 
for his absence. Tne peculiarity of 
this piece is that the male ciuracter 
never speaks a word, and it affords 
great scope for clever business on his 
part. 

Husband in Clover. 1 Act. By H. 

C. Merivale. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. A newly married 
husband bewails the constant atten¬ 
tions of his wife. The wife finds it 
out, and retaliates in a very amusing 
manner. 

Love and Rain. 1 Act. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. 
A young widow, fancying she is de¬ 
serted by her friends, requests her 
servant to bring in a gentleman whom 
she sees standing in the rain, and after 
an interesting scene they become en¬ 
gaged. 

Man who follows Ladies. 1 Act. 

By Howard Paul. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene, divided 
in the centre to represent Two Apart¬ 
ments; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Augustus Twinkler occu¬ 
pies one of the apartments, and Flor¬ 
ence, a milliner, the other. Twinkler 
has a habit of folio "mg ladies, and 
Florence happens to be the last he 
has tormented. They ar^ unexpectedly 
brought together at them lodgings, and 
the usual happy result follows. 

The Meeting-. 1 Act. By Robert 
Gantliony. Modern Costume. Time 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Con¬ 
stance meets Algernon in a seaside 
boarding-house. Years ago they had 
been engaged. After bluffing one 
another, they both confess they have 
married decrepit old invalids—for 
money. This duologue can be acted on 
a concert platform. 

My First Client. 1 Act. By Mary 
Openshaw. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene, 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Madame Yvonne calls on a young soli¬ 
citor to consult him in respect of an 
action for breach of promise she in¬ 
tends instituting on behalf of her 
sister. It turns out the young solicitor 
is the man who jilted the sister. He 
induces her to abandon the idea. The 
woman’s part is spoken in broke* 
French. 


2 TWO CHARACTERS. 

My Milliner’s Bill. Is. 1 Act. By C. W. 


Godfrey. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. Mrs. Merridew 
owes a Bond Street dressmaker a large 
sum. She endeavours to conceal this 
from her husband, but he finds out 
her secret, and settles the bill—not, 
however, until he has taught her a 
lesson—disguised as a bailiff. 

Pair of Knickerbockers. 1 Act. 
By Eden Phillpotts. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Walking Gentleman. Mr. and Mrs. 
Melrose are on their honeymoon. She 
appears in rational costume which fie 
objects to, but as she insists he makes 
an appearance in his wife’s clothes, in¬ 
timating that he will go out with her 
dressed as a woman. This has the de- 
Bired effect. 

Peace at any Price. 1 Act. By T. 

W. Robertson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. A short, 
comical farce, the plot being the same 
as “ No. 1 Round the Corner.” 

Personation. 1 Act, By M. T. De¬ 
camp. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 
Lady Comedian. This is what the title 
suggests, an impersonation farce. Lady 
Julia hearing that her lover, Lord 
Heijry, would arrive, dressed as his 
«wn valet, in order to test whether his 
«hree years’ absence has wrought any 
change; she is enabled to adopt simi¬ 
lar tactics towards him, and appears 
under various disguises. 

Punctured. 1 Act. By Gideon War¬ 
ren. Modern Costume. Time, 24 min. 
1 Exterior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. Liza punctures her 
tyre, and stopping Jim, who is riding 
by, asks him to help her mend it. 
They decide to ride home together, and 
walk out in company in future. 

Rats. 1 Act. By W. A. Mackersy. 
Modern Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 
Interior Scen«j; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Mrs. .Birdlove, who has 
a horror of burglars, is left at home by 
herself, and mistake* a rat-catcher sent 
by her husband for a burglar, and he 
mistakes her for the nursery-governess. 


Rest Cure. 1 Act. By Marie Mug« 

geridge. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. During a visit to 
London, Nellie becomes engaged to a 
young actor, Charlie Stafford. Hear¬ 
ing of the engagement, Nellie is 
brought home and forbidden to see 
her lover. The young people deter¬ 
mine Nellie must feign illness, and 
Charlie attends her in the capacity of 
Doctor. In the end the* deception i* 
discovered, all is forgiven, and the 
lovers united. 

Three Blind Mice. 1 Act. By William 
Muskerry. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian. Mrs. Aspen 
Quiver is a pretty, fascinating woman 
—so thinks Mr. Twembelow. More¬ 
over, she is a widow; but, unfor¬ 
tunately, in desperate fear of mice. 
Such a creature gets into her room, 
and Mr. Twembelow, calling, finds 
her in spasms of fear. But he also 
has a ridiculous terror of the animal, 
and his suit does not progress well 
until the mouse drowns itself in a 
bucket. 

Two on a. ’Bus. 1 Act. By Herbert 

Swears. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene. 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. Mr. Twyford, 
through motives of economy, insists 
on taking his wife Kitty to Walham 
Green on a ’bus. Kitty loses her 
purse, and they enact their ride, en¬ 
deavouring to remember when the 
article was first missed. The climax 
is arrived at on the purse being 
found in Twyford’s pocket. 

Wrong Side of the Road. 1 Act. 
By F. H. Evans. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. Driv¬ 
ing carelessly, Madge runs her motor 
into a -cyclist, Jack Hamspon, and 
smashes him up badly. Without ascer¬ 
taining the. damage, she flies on to 
the nearest inn. Jack soon, arrives in 
a deplorable condition, but he is only 
outwardly hurt. With the help of his 
appearance, he manages +o frighten 
poor Madge unmercifully, and ends by 
flirting with her. 


COMEDIES 


A Duet. 1 Act. By AiShur Conan 
Doyle. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. A young 
married couple are discussing the 
events of their lives before marriage. 
The wife makes the husband furious 
by telliag him she has been kn-sid by 
a man, agid also has sat on his, knee 
several times—when she was three *ars 
old however. 

After the Party. 1 Act. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, TO min. 1 Int v rior So-sai: 


1 Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. The 
plot of this little piece is similar to 
‘Forty Winks,” described below. 

Aunt Jane’s Flat. 1 Act. By Bertha 
Moore. Modern Evening Dress Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Miss Marjorie Nelson, return¬ 
ing from a ball, after having danced 
several times with Harold Trust, gets 
into the wrong flat, thinking it is her 
Aunt Jane’s. Harold returns hom» 


TWO CHARACTERS 


a 


and discovers her, the conversation 
ending with the usual result. 

Baron’s Wager (The). 1 Act. By 
Sir Charles L. Young. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Tijne, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian; ] Lady 
Comedian. Baron Octave de Geran- 
dot. having lost heavily in gambling at 
his club, is promised a release upon his 
persuading some lady in society, whom 
he does not know, to kiss him before 
the club closes. He visits Clothilde, 
Marquise de Marsay, and induces her 
to give him the necessary salute. It 
transpires that they have just met at 
a masked ball, and have been betrothed 
by their parents. 

Breaking the Ice. 1 Act. By 
Charles Thomas. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Miss Martin, in order to avoid a hus¬ 
band of her father’s choice, runs away 
from home, and is snowed up at an inn. 
She is compelled to share the only 
sitting-room with a strange gentleman. 
They introduce each other under wrong 
names. The gentleman proves to be 
the future husband selected for her, 
and. being an acceptable lover, she is 
enabled to comply with her father’s 
wishes. 

Breezy Morning. 1 Act. By Eden 
Phillpotts. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
and Mrs. Goldie quarrel on their 
honeymoon. He invites a friend down 
who is horsey and vulgar, and she 
invites a German lady who carries 
canaries and parrots about with her. 
Neither arrive, and they make up their 
differences. 

Charitable Bequest. By N. 

Newnham-Davis. Evening Dress. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian. Henry Cham¬ 
pion and Ladv Margaret Haussman 
meet at the old house of their Guardian 
15 years after his death to read a letter 
disposing of his property. If they 
have not married each other they are 
to have £1,000 a year each, and the 
house goes to a hospital; but if they 
have or contemplate it, then they have 
the house, and £2,000 a year goes to 
the hospital. They eventually decide 
it would be wrong to deprive the hos¬ 
pital of so much. 

Cupid in Ermine. 1 Act. By Ellen 
Lancaster-Wallis. Modern Costume. 
Time, 16 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. Judge 
Verulam and Mrs. Brascoe, a widow, 
meet to discuss a marriage between 
his nephew and her step-daughter. 
The interview results in an engage¬ 
ment between themselves. 

Desperate Remedies. By W. F. 

Winckworth. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 

B t 


Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Frank 
and Sophie have been married three 
months, and are always quarrelling. 
To stop this they each hit upon the 
idea of pretending to commit suicide, 
and write notes to this effect. They 
are, however, promptly reconciled. 

Fancy Fair. l Act. By Ralph R. 
Lumley. Modern Costume. Time, 22 
min. 1 Interior Scene, 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. The 
action takes place in a bazaar, and re¬ 
sults in the happy termination of a 
misunderstanding between two lovers. 

Fashionable Intelligence. 1 Act. 
By Percy Fen Jail. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Mr. Egerton, wishing to bring a widow 
to the matrimonial point, causes a 
paragraph to be inserted in a Society 
paper that he is engaged to an heiress. 
The widow discovers the subterfuge, is 
very angry, cools down, and agrees to 
marry him. 

Floating a Company. 1 Act. By 

Julian Cross. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Walking Gentleman. Rosa¬ 
lind Vernon falls in love with Captain 
Carruthers much against her father’s 
wish, who desires her to marry a man 
she has never seen. Captain Carru¬ 
thers turns out to be the man selected 
by her father. 

Game of Chess. 1 Act. By Alfred 
Sutro. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. For five days Dr. 
Rogers and Miss Vivien Meadows 
have been constant associates on 
board a liner, bound for New York. 
The climax takes p ace over a game 
of chess in the d awing-room. The 
doctor, extremely poor, has discovered 
Vivien to be exceeding y rich, and 
this alone has prevented him propos¬ 
ing, but she, on the other hand, is 
tired of her wealth, and tactfully 
allows him to d : scover this. Goaded 
on by this dec'aration, he asks her 
to marry him, but frankly quashes all 
idea of Society, lady’s-maid, etc. 
Vivien answers by allowing him to 
take the queen. 

Garden Party. 1 Act. By C. S. Chelt- 

nam. Modern Costume. Time, 20 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Mrs. Lorimer is jealous of 
her husband’s attention to Miss Pren- 
dergast. She learns that a cousin of 
hers is engaged to this young la ly. and 
discovers that Mr. Lorimer’s attentions 
were mere acts of courtesy to one who 
would shortly enter her own family. 
She thereupon asks his forgiveness. 

Girl Graduate. 1 Act. By Edw. 
Rose. Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; I Walking Lady. Ella Rede, of 


4 


TWO CHARACTERS 


Girton, walks into Jack Sherwin’s 
rooms at Cambridge, and asks him to 
use his influence to break off the en¬ 
gagement of his bosom friend with her 
sister. Jack and Ella are philosophers 
and despise marriage. After quarrel¬ 
ling, they sympathise and swear friend¬ 
ship. She puts his room tidy, and 
friendship turning to love, he wins her 
heart. 

Grandmother’s Gown. 1 Act. By 

Charles Anderson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 17 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Lady. Sir Joshua 
Dering is desirous of making a wealthy 
match for his granddaughter Dorothy, 
who, however, prefers a suitor of her 
own choice. She wins her grandfather 
over by appearing in a costume once 
worn by her grandmother, and bring¬ 
ing to light the incident of her grand¬ 
father’s wooing, which was similar to 
her own. 

Happy Pair. l Act. By S. Theyre 
Smith. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. Undoubtedly the 
best comedietta for this number of 
characters. Mr. Honeyton has been 
behaving in an unkind manner to his 
newly married wife. She receives, a 
letter from a friend giving her advice 
as to how to manage him. This letter 
falls into his hands, and is the means 
of restoring happiness. 

^ler New Dressmaker. 1 Act. By 

W. R. Walkes. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Walking Gentleman. 
Major Churnside is invited out to din¬ 
ner. and goes by mistake into Mrs. 
Forbes’ house. Mrs. Forbes is expect¬ 
ing a representative from a milliner’s, 
and mistakes him for same. He turns 
out to be an old love with whom she 
quarrelled, and he stays to dinner. 

Honeymoon Tragedy. 1 Act. By 
Mrs. W. K. Clifford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Hotel Scene. 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man. An Italian Count marries a 
young English governess, the latter 
being made to believe he is exceedingly 
wealthy, with large estates. They 
arrive at Savona on their honeymoon, 
where he breaks the news to her of his 
extreme poverty. Incidentally, he is 
also the father of a family of seven. 

In and out of a Punt. By H. V. 

Esmond. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. A young couple, 
after quarrelling over housekeeping ac¬ 
counts, decide to re-enact an afternoon 
on the river, on which they used to 
punt when courting. With a board, two 
chairs, a walking-stickj and a parasol, 
they pretend to be punting, and aa 
amusing scene follows. 


Interview. 1 Act. By T. G. Warren. 

Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Walking Gentleman. Martin Grange, 
a dramatic author, is visited by Nata- 
lie Norris, who refuses to state her 
business, but by a series of clever ques¬ 
tions finds out his little weaknesses. 
She then discloses the fact that she is 
a newspaper interviewer, and intends 
to print all the nonsense he has told 
he/. She at last promises not to pub¬ 
lish it. 

Jerry and a Sunbeam. 1 Act. By 

Cosmo Hamilton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman: 1 Walking Lady. 
Mary Bellasis’s wealth prevents Jerry 
Corbet, a solicitor, proposing to her. 
She visits him for his advice, and dic¬ 
tates a letter which he writes to a 
supposed lover, intimating that she 
knows the reason why he does not pro¬ 
pose, but that it should not matter. 
She addresses the letter to Jerry, and 
hurriedly leaves the room. 

Just as Well. 1 Act. By J. Hartley 
Manners. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene- 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. The 
Hon. Doleen Sweetmarch and Captain 
Hastings Trawbrid^e are to be married 
on the following Friday. They both 
think they are in love with other 
people. Upon Doleen, however, telling 
Hastings the girl he is in love with 
dyes her hair, is a terrible flirt, and has 
thrown over several men already; and 
he telling her, her beau ideal is not 
worth a halfpenny, they think it “ just 
as well ” to let the wedding take place 
as arranged. 

Leap Year, l Act. By Frederick Kerr. 
Modern Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Walking Gentleman. Tom is in love 
with his rich cousin, Nellie, but does 
not propose on account of his poverty. 
He is also heavily in debt. Nellie dis¬ 
covers this, and it being Leap Year, 
proposes to him. 

Love and Dentistry. 1 Act. By H. 

Swears. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Walking Gentleman. Frank 
and Madge have quarrelled at a ball. 
They meet again at a dentist’s waiting 
room, and after a laughable scene make 
it up. 

Love Game. 1 Act. By Walter Browne. 
Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Walking Lady. A capital piece, and 
would be much appreciated by lovers 
of lawn tennis. Rose Leigh, thinking 
to bring Jack May more speedily to 
her feet, puts up a lawn tennis net in 
the drawing-room to keep him at a 
proper distance, and becomes enmeshed 
in her own toils. Jack sees through 
her game, and plays accordingly. Roge 


TWO CHARACTERS 


6 


fears she has gone too far, and is 
Anxious to console him, but the net is 
in the way. This obstacle being re¬ 
moved, the lovers are enabled to make 
up their differences. 

Love Suit (A). 1 Act. By W. Gordon 
Smythies. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. A 
sparkling dialogue between two 
oousins, in which a novel and comic 
situation is introduced. Amy in a 
girlish freak makes a dummy Cousin 
r Robert out of the latter’s coat and hat, 
and rallies him on not proposing like a 
man. Robert overhears her, and dur¬ 
ing Amy’s temporary absence takes 
the place of the dummy, which cul¬ 
minates in the timid lover declaring 
himself. 

Love Test. 1 Act. By Walter Lisle. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. A widow promises a naval 
captain she will marry him if he re¬ 
frains from swearing for an hour. He 
fails in his endeavour, but neverthe¬ 
less gains her consent. 

Lyrical Lover. 1 Act. By H. Savile 

Clark. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. An 
uncle is desirous that his niece, Alice 
Fane, an heiress and lover of poetry, 
should marry Frank Greville. The 
latter arrives, and she mistakes him 
for a “ City ” man, consequently their 
interview at first is not very pleasant. 
He is, however, the anonymous writer 
of the poems she adores, and she is 
consequently enabled to appreciate the 
virtues of a Lyrical Lover. 

Maker of Men. 1 Act By Alfred 

Sutro. Modern Costume. Time, 26 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Hav¬ 
ing endured the monotony of a bank 
clerk’s existence for several years, 
Cuthbert Faringdon awaits, with his 
wife Edith, the result of the direc¬ 
tors’ meeting to appoint the manager 
of a local branch. So confident is he 
of his success, that he plans his 
future, glowing over the luxury of a 
larger house and extinction of en¬ 
forced economy. A note arrives an¬ 
nouncing the choice has fallen on a 

1 ‘unior. Cuthbert almost breaks down. 

't is not so much on his shoulders, 
he asserts, the hardship develops, but 
on poor Edith, who slaves all day 
long to make ends meet. She, how¬ 
ever, utters no complaint. She is 
content to remain as before—the 
mainstay of the cosy home, the 
mother of her children—a maker of 
men. Cuthbert is roused from his 
discontent by her eloquent reasoning, 
aud kisses her fervently as the cur¬ 
tain falls. 


Marriage Has Been Arranged, l 

Act By Alfred Sutro. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Walking 
Gentleman. Everyone is expecting 
the announcement of Lady Aline’s en¬ 
gagement to an American million¬ 
aire. Her mother arranges for them to 
be left together in a room during a 
ball, where Lady Aline first comes to 
the conclusion her intended is the 
most vulgar parvenu she had ever met, 
and refuses point blank to marry him. 
Afterwards his refinement and educa¬ 
tion assert themselves, and “ every¬ 
one’s ” expectations are realised. 
Mirror of Time. 1 Act. By Cyril 
Wentworth Hogg. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Mrs. Desborough is the child 
of a frivolous mother, sent to the 
seclusion of a convent to be out of her 
mother’s way. To escape the rigid 
discipline, she marries the first pos¬ 
sible man she encounters, only to 
drift into further unhappiness. Even¬ 
tually they separate, and, after drift¬ 
ing aimlessly from place to place, Mrs. 
Desborough meets Terrance Mars- 
brook. To him she relates her story, 
and he declares his intention of wait¬ 
ing for her until her husband, double 
her age, dies. In the meantime, she 
must come to live with his mother. 
On hearing of his resolution, Mrs 
Desborough adds to her story the im¬ 
portant detail that her husband has 
since died, the omission of this point 
having been made to test his true 
regard. 

Mr. and Mrs. Muffltt. 1 Act. By 

Lita Smith. Modern Costume. Time 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. 
Muffitt reads in a novel that many 
wives spoil their husbands by dulness, 
and determines to save herself from 
such a reproach. Her subsequent 
actions lead Mr. Muffitt to believe she 
is mad. She becomes alarmed at this, 
and is obliged to explain her conduct. 
Mrs. or Miss. 1 Act. By Bertha 
Moore. Modern Costume, Evening 
Dress. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady. Captain Treherne a 
proverbial masher, sits out a dance 
with Mrs. Vansittart Penrose under 
the impression she is a young un¬ 
married woman. She keeps the joke 
up, much to his discomfiture. 
Mystification. 1 Act. By W. Gordon 
Smythies. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Eccentric Lady. Montmor- 
enci, a private enquiry agent, receives 
letters from two ladies of the same 
name (Smith), and who also live in 
the same flats. One writes of a lost 
captain, and the other of a missing cat 
One of the ladies calls at tk» t>mo* 
about the cat, but the agent 
is referring tc the captain. , 


6 TWO CHARACTERS. 

Nettle, 1 Act. By E. Warren. Modern cesca she asserts to be but a poet’a 

Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior dream, and logically sends him on his 

Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walk- way. 

ing Lady. Guy Charlton, imagining Pair of Lunatics. 1 Act. By W. R. 
an article entitled “ Notable Noodles,” ' Walkes. Modern Costume. Time, 10 


in a satirical paper ” The Nettle,” re¬ 
fers to him, proceeds to the writer’s 
lodgings, intending #to horsewhip him. 
He, however, meets the author’s sister, 
Dulcie Meredith, with whom he falls 
in love. He learns that the article was 
intended for one of his own friends, 
breaks his whip, and becomes engaged 
to Dulcie. 

Ninth Waltz. 1 Act. Bv R. C. Car¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. A gentleman meets a lady 
at a ball, after several years’ estrange¬ 
ment. He tells her the reason he for¬ 
merly left so hurriedly was on account 
of money matters, not wishing her 
to marry a beggar. He has since, 
however, made a creditable fortune, 
and she accepts his offer to share it. 

Old Love Letters. 1 Act. By Bronson 
Howard. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. Mrs. Florence 
Brownlee, a widow, is looking through 
some old love letters, when the writer 
of them, the Hon. Edward War-burton, 
a widower, calls upon her after thir¬ 
teen years’ absence, to return her 
letters. He renews his vows, and she 
accepts him. 

On an Island. 1 Act. By J. W. Jones. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. Two old 
lovers, who have had a tiff and would 
not speak to each other, are left on 
an island after a picnic, the steam 
launch having gone without them. 
Their differences are made up, and the 
boat returns as the curtain falls. 

Only Amateurs. 1 Act. By Harold 
Montague. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Lady and 1 Walking Gentleman. Basil 
Jackson is asked to Kitty’s house to 
stage-manage some amateur theatri¬ 
cals. In the process of rehearsal he 
falls in love, and finally proposes. 

Open Door. 1 Act. By Alfred Sutro. 
Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 
Lady Comedian. The existing rela¬ 
tions between Sir Geoffrey Transom 
and Lady Torminster, wife of Lord 
Torminster, have been strictly platonic, 
in the most prudish sense of the word. 
Lord Torminster is a bore, a hopeless, 
inconvertible bore; Sir Geoffrey a man 
of singular intellect, bristling conver¬ 
sation, a woman’s ideal. He awakens 
to his sleeping affection for Lady Tor- 
minster, and packs his trunks. Jack 
is his dearest friend. Lady Torminster 
indulges in one interview prior to his 
departure. She draws the confession 
of his love, and in return makes a 
breast of her own. Paolo and Fran- 


min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. A most 
successful piece, and much used at 
bazaar and platform entertainments. 
A young lady and gentleman meet at 
a ball given in a lunatic asylum. They 
each imagine the other to be insane, 
and a most laughable scene takes place. 

Palmistry. 1 Act. By R. R. Lumley. 
Romeo and Juliet Costumes. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Two 
young people meet at a fancy ball, 
dressed as Romeo and Juliet. An old- 
established family feud exists between 
their respective families. Before the 
inevitable troths are pledged, she com¬ 
pels the gentleman to apologise for his 
ancestor’s offence. 

Pierrot and Pierette. 1 Act. By T. 

Macdonald. Fancy Costumes. Time, 
10 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian. Pierette 
makes Pierrot jealous. She induces 
him to go into a cupboard, and pre¬ 
tends to have a flirtation with a lover 
whose voice she imitates. Pierette 
introduces a dance. 

Plot for Plot. 1 Ait. By Sir C. L. 

ioung. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. Captain Harcourt, 
in order to propose to an old love of 
his, and not wishing to be married for 
his money 5 causes a frienily iawyer to 
write to him saying that his property 
has been left to a cousin, and conse¬ 
quently he is a beggar. He shows this 
letter to the lady, who, however, finds 
out by a postscript, which was unseen 
by Captain Harcourt, that it is a 
hoax. She, therefore, causes a tele¬ 
gram to be sent to him from the 
lawyer saying that the letter was no 
iokp and a will had actually been 
found. 

Rain Clouds. 1 Act. By W. R. 
Walkes. Modern Costume. Time. 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Dick 
and Gwendolen are on their honey¬ 
moon and weather-bound. She makes 
him jealous by referring to an admirer 
of hers, and he does the same with re¬ 
gard to a certain lady. They make it 
up upon learning that these two are 
married to each other. r ' 

Semi-Detached. 1 Act. By Herbert 
Swears. Modern Costume. Time, 15 
mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. Angelica dreads to 
tell Douglas, her betrothed, that she 
loves another. Hq calls to break a 
similar piece of intelligence to her. 
After mutual recrimination they di» 
cover their new l|>ves to be faithless 
and agree to marr\> each other after all 


TWO CHARACTERS. 


7 


Show of Hands. 1 Act. By W. R. 
Walkes. Modern Costume. Time, 10 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. A 
father, who believes in palmistry, will 
not consent to his daughter’s marriage, 
in consequence of the lines of her 
lover’s hands, which indicate criminal 
propensities. The daughter finds she 
has the same lines, and the father 
makes a similar discovery. It is then 
ascertained that a wrong diagram has 
been consulted, and the right one prov¬ 
ing satisfactory, the father’s refusal is 
withdrawn. 

Silver Keepsake. 1 Act. By Eille 
Norwood. Costumes, 1750. Time, 30 
min. 1 Exterior Scene: 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Lady 
Janet and the Earl of Grasslyn loved 
each other as children. The latter at 
the age of 14 was supposed to have 
been murdered by brigands when tra¬ 
velling with his father in Italy. After 
many years he returns, and identifier 
himself to Janet by showing the half 
of a sixpenny piece, the other half of 
which he had previously given her as 
a keepsake. A gavotte is introduced 
in this piece. 

Six Persons. 1 Act. By I. Zangwill. 
Modern Costumes. Time, 30 min. In¬ 
terior Scene: 1 Walking Gentleman; 

1 Walking Lady. Charles Scott has 
proposed and been accepted by 
Eugenia Latimer; the latter after¬ 
wards wishes to break it off. Charles 
also wishes to withdraw, and when she 
learns ,this a quarrel ensues, both 
saying farewell for ever, but as he 
gets to the door she calls him back 
and makes it up again. 

Sixes and Sevens. 1 Act. By 
E. H. Whitmore. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Capt. Hippe, who is calling 
at some flats in answer to an 
advertisement in a matrimonial news¬ 
paper, is by mistake shown into No. 

7 instead of No. 6. He meets Miss 
Edith Cashdown, and mistakes her for 
the lady who is advertising, and she 
mistakes him for a new butler she is 
expecting to have an interview with. 
Sudden Squall (A). 1 Act. By 

Ellen Lancaster-Wallis. Modern 
Costume. Time, 10 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady. A young married 
couple have a little quarrel and talk 
about committing suicide. This 
brings them back to happiness. 
Taken for Granted. l Act. By 
R. W. Cann. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Richard Barr, in order to be 
introduced to May Norton, gets an 
invitation to a party and is mistaken 
for a conjuror who had been engaged. 
Theory and Practice. 1 Act. By 
A. Benham. Modern Costume. 


Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 7 

Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mrs. Hunter has an easy¬ 
going and good-natured husband, 
whom she chaffs about his manners. 
She suggests he should get up a mild 
flirtation with someone, but expresses 
extreme jealousy when she learns that 
he has been purchasing a present at a 
jeweller’s. She relents upon dis¬ 
covering that the present is for her. 
Thrown Together. 1 Act. By 
Dora V. Greet. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Two lovers have quarrelled. They 
both meet with a similar accident in 
the hunting field, and arrive on the 
same spot. They sympathise with 
each other, and make up their 
differences. 

Twenty Minutes Under an Um¬ 
brella. 1 Act. By A. W. Dubourg. 
Modern Costumes. Time, 20 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Originally played by Mr. 
and Mrs. Kendal. A love scene takes 
place under an umbrella. Rain is 
supposed to be falling during the 
action of the play. 

Villain and Victim. 1 Act. By 
W. R. Walkes. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Adolphus and Millicent, a young 
married couple, belong to an amateur 
dramatic club. While rehearsing 
their parts a quarrel arises about 
stage kisses and embraces with other 
members of the club, and they decide 
to resign. 

Wally and the Widow, l Act. By 
Ethel L. Newman. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Boy (aged 11). 
Wally has a passion for ruling his 
home, and expects humble submis¬ 
sion from his associates. When the 
stylish widow who is about to marry 
his father, appears, he announces he 
will only permit such action if she, 
the widow, will consent t‘o sign an 
agreement dictated by him. Mrs. 
Mountjoy succeeds in interesting the 
boy in the story of her and his 
father. Wally decides to tolerate his 
new mother. 

Woman’s Proper Place. 1 Act. 
By J. Wilton Jones and Gertrude 
Warden. Modern Costume. Time. 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. 
Mary Montagu Robinson arranges that 
her husband should attend to her 
household duties, while she occupies 
her time at her club, etc. She is 
disgusted with a book entitled 
Woman's Proper Place,” which 
happens to have been written by her 
husband, who receives £200 for it. 
which amount he hands to his wife 
to pay for some of her Stock Exchange 
difficulties. She then decides to take 
her proper position in domestic affairs. 


fWO CHARACTERS, 


8 


DRAMAS, 


*• Cinders." 1 Act. By Lily 

Tinsley. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Chambermaid. Jack 
"Warrener owes £100, lost at cards, and 
in course of conversation, gives 
“ Cinders,” an illiterate maid-cff-all 
work, a lottery ticket. This ticket 
wins £1,000, and she generously gives 
up her claim to Jack in order that he 
may pay his debts and marry the girl 
he is engaged to 

Drifted Apart. 1 Act. By Sir 
Charles L. Young. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. The 
affections of Sir Geoffrey Blomneid 
and his wife have drifted apart during 
their married life. They are happily 
reconciled upon the wife suggesting 
that they should part, and an allusion 
being made to their deceased child. 

Ella’s Apology. 1 Act. By Alfred 
Sutro. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. # Chiefly through 
disappointment in his art, Dick Har¬ 
vey gradually commences to neglect 
his wife Ella. Her novels sell, and 
he is compelled to accept the 
humiliating situation of living on her 
work. He discovers an endearing 
letter from a man called Taylor to 
her, and, concluding she would be 
happier with him, resolves to com¬ 
mit suicide. Ella breaks in just as 
he is on the point of shooting him¬ 
self. The letter is on the table, and 
Dick will hear of no explanation. 
He has no blame for her—her action 
was logical. Ella convinces him she 
loves her husband more profoundly 
than ever, the Taylor incident being 
merely caused by his temporary 
neglect. 

Gutter of Time. 1 Act. By Alfred 
Sutro. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian. A 
very beautiful woman, Mrs. Tarrant, 
attracts to her house the inex¬ 
perienced youthful visitor to San 
Francisco in order that her husband 
may fleece him at cards. An example 
presents itself in Sir Harry Jardine, 
who falls desperately in love. Mrs. 
Tarrant realises the unsuspecting 
trust he places in her, and recounts 
to him the sordid story of her life, 
finally explaining she is not legally 
Tarrant’s wife Jardine forthwith 
asks her to marry him, but she con¬ 
fesses that her love for him is so 
deep she would not drag him down 
to the low level into which she has 
■unk. 

Idyll of Closing: Century. 1 Act. 
By Estelle Burney. Modern Costume. 
Time. 18 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Walkinv Lady; 1 Walking Gentleman. 
Hayes Dormer, M.P., and the Hon. 
Millicent Warreyne are two worldly 
minded people who have agreed to 


marry solely to advance their pesitioat 
in Society. In an interview they 
decide that marriage, under the cir¬ 
cumstances, would be too exacting, 
and they agree to separate, each 
having a real liking for someone else. 

Queen’s Messenger. 1 Act. By 
J. Hartley Manners. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian: 1 Lady 

Comedian. A lady has met an 
English officer at a masked ball 
abroad. She is a spy in pay of a 
Foreign Government, and he is a 
Queen’s Messenger and bearer of most 
important despatches. On the pre¬ 
tence that she has a letter which she 
wants delivered in London, she takes 
him to a house where she drugs him 
and steals his papers. He recovers, 
discovers his loss, and is on the point 
of blowing his brains out, when the 
lady relents, restores his secret papers, 
and undertakes to drive him to the 
station in time to catch his train. 

Salt of Life. 1 Act. By Alfred Sutro. 
Modern Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. The marriage of Mabel 
Ackworth to a man double her age is 
the last word in stories of mesalliance. 
Varens, a friend of Jack Ackworth, 
allows Mabel to fall desperately in 
love with him, and, flattered at his 
conquest, cultivates a show of similar 
attachment—when alone with her. An 
appointment is offered him in the 
Philippines, and he comes to bid her 
good-bye. At first she is inclined to 
think he is but joking; but his ear¬ 
nestness brings to her the cold reality 
of an absolutely loveless existence 
until his return, and it is with great 
difficulty he finally gets away. 
Snowstorm. l Act. By Sidney 
Bowkett. Modern Costume. Time. 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man and 1 Walking Lady. Henry 
Fenton has been falsely accused and 
sentenced to penal servitude. Upon 
his release he is unable to find h s 
wife and child, and on a stormy night 
is hospitably received by Edith 
Kingsley. fie recognises a picture 
on the wall as being the portrait of 
his wife. Edith happens to be his 
daughter, and shows him a confession 
which proves his innocence. 

Yellow Roses. 1 Act. By Sir 
Charles L. Young. Modern Costume. 
Time. 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Ladv Comedian. Colonel 
St. Clair and Mrs. Peveril, an elderly 
couple, meet after 40 years’ separation. 
When a young man he had sent her 
a bunch of yellow roses, inside of 
which was a proposal of mairiags. 
She had kept these flowers until now, 
but had never discovered the note. 
Upon his. relating the circumstances, 
the letter is found unopened, and their 
courtship is again renewed. 


THREE CHARACTERS 


9 


THREE CHARACTERS 

ONE MALE AND TWO FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Incompatibility of Temper. l 

Act. By W. E. Suter. Modern 
Costume. Time. 35 min 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Comedian; 2 Walking 
Ladies. A married couple who do 
not display the best temper towards 
each other are pacified by the good 
services of a lady friend. 

Little Annie’s Birthday. 1 Act. 
By W. E. Suter. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman: 1 
Chambermaid. _ Mrs. Strickland has 
invited some tuveniles to celebrate 
Little Annie’s Birthday. Annie mis¬ 
behaves herselL ahd is shut up in her 
room. The visitors arrive, and the 
aunt has such a lively time of it that 
she is glad to forgive the delinquent. 
The actress who takes little Annie’s 
part assumes the characters of all the 
visitors. 

Our New Butler. 1 Act. By Harry 
Nicholls. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady: 1 
Chambermaid. A wife determines te 1 
keep a butler against her husband’s 


wish. The husband disguises himself 
as the butler advertised for. and 
carries on to such an extent that it 
makes his wife alter her mind. 

Time is Money. 1 Act By Mrs. 

Hugh Bell and Arthur Cecil. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian: 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians. This little ’■'lay has been re¬ 
peatedly done bv r r. Charles Haw- 
trey. Charles Gi. am is enamoured 
with a widow, Mrs. Murray, but, partly 
on account of his poverty, and partly 
his extreme nervousness, he has re¬ 
frained from coming to the point. Mrs. 
Murray returns his affection, but is 
annoyed at his reticence. Graham 
comes into some money, and at once 
rushes to his widow. Occupied with the 
coming ordeal of proposal, he forgets 
his money, and cannot pay his cab¬ 
man. Throughout his interview with 
Mrs. Murray he endeavours, through 
the medium of her maid, to pacify the 
irate cabman, very nearly causing a 
friction with the widow, but the ulti¬ 
mate issue is successful on both sides. 


COMEDIES 


Anerelina’s Lover. 1 Act. By 

Frank Stavton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman: 1 Walking 

Lady: 1 Lady Comedian. A young 
wife is annoyed with her husband be¬ 
cause he has not once been jealous 
since their marriage. She resolves to 
dress up as a cousin and call on her 
husband in the role of her own lover. 
He soon discovers the plot, and 
makes her look ridiculous. 

Between the Post®. 1 Act. By 
Mrs. Hugh Bell. Modern Costume. 
Time. 30 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Geoffrey 
Warourton, a young nervous barrister, 
is in love with Edith Neville. He 
posts her a letter proposing marriage, 
and then sends her a telegram asking 
her not to open it. Thinking he has 
made himself foolish, he calls on her. 
and is accepted. 

Case for Eviction. 1 Act. By S. 
Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 80 min. 1 Interior Scene; J 


Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Utility. A young medical 
man and his wife have invited a jovial 
Irish major to stav with them, and 
afterwards find they cannot get rid 
of him. Every expedient is resorted 
to without success. The major’s wife 
at last arrives, and he immediately 
bolts, she following, thus leaving tli# 
house once more in peace. 

Chalk and Cheese. 1 Act. By 

Rille Norwood. Modern Costume. 
Time. 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Ladv Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. A slight estrangement 
has sprung up between Walter Bay- 
mond and Ms wife. Sybil. Unknown 
to each other they join the same 
Amateur Dramatic Club. One is cast 
for Romeo and the other Juliet. 
Sybil discovers her husband rehears’ng 
with the servant girl, and a stormy 
scene follows, but mutual explanation* 
effect a speedy reconciliation. 

Cousins Once Removed. 1 Act 

By A. M. Heathcote.. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interio* 


TO 


THREE CHARACTERS 


Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. Cousin 
Joshua has been requested to take in 
Cousin Judith from Bolivia. He 
imagines she is an old woman, but on 
her arrival discovers that she is young 
and beautiful. In order that she may 
not think she is in a bachelor’s house, 
and to make her stay, he impersonates 
his old father, who has Jong since 
been dead. He is found out, but his 
sister telegranhs she is arriving, which 
solves the difficulty. 

Late Sir Benjamin (The). 1 Act. 

By Sir Charles Young. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians. Lady Markle refuses to 
marry again in consequence of the 
esteem in which she held her late 
husband. Sir Benjamin is proved to 
have been unworthy of this regard, 
and she is induced to reconsider her 
determination. 

Lunatic (The). 1 Act. By Agnes 
Leigh. Modern Costume. Time, 18 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Harry Bumpus visits his 
aunt and cousin, who have read in the 
papers that a dangerous lunatic has 
escaped. Much amusement is 
caused by their mistaking Harry for 
the lunatic. 

Man Proposes. 1 Act. By Sydney 
Grundy. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Bell Huntington, in 
order to test the affection of the man 
she is destined by will to marry, 
assumes the character of a supposed 
cousin, and thoroughly succeeds in her 
object. 

Outwitted. 1 Act. By W. Gordon 

Smythies. Modern Costume. 1 
Interior Scene. Time, 30 min. 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady: 1 Chambermaid. Bertha 

Stewart and Harold Foster are lovers, 
but Bertha’s aunt and Harold’s uncle 
do all in their power to set the young 
people against each other. Harold 
disguises himself as his uncle, and 
calls at Bertha’s house. Bertha, to 
test the truth of her aunt’s state¬ 
ments against Harold, dresses up as 
her aunt. Thus the young people 
meet, each unaware who the other is. 
Their eyes are opened to the true 
characters of their designing relatives, 
who are successfully outwitted. 


Rainy Day (A). 1 Act. By Agnes 

Leigh. Modern Costume. Time. 18 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Charles Fordyce and Clara Gird ! estone 
have their engagement nearly broken 
off in consequence of each seeing 
letters saying they are about to be 
married to someone else. The letters 
prove to have been written by an 
enemy. 

Second Thoughts. 1 Act. By G. C. 

Herbert. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman. A rich elderly widow desires 
to win the affections of a young 
baronet who is ruined. The baronet, 
however, on second thoughts, prefers 
his cousin. 

Sixpenny Telegram. 1 Act. By 

Florence Bell. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian: 1 Lady Comedian; 1 

Walking Lady. By means of a tele¬ 
gram, Mrs. Beaumont, a widow, en¬ 
deavours to cause a meeting between 
her friend, Amy Foster, and Colonel 
Cameron, whose engagement to each 
other has been broken off. The 
Colonel arrives, and Mrs. Beaumont 
recognises in him a former lover of 
hers. Amy writes to say she is about 
to be married to someone else, so 
Mrs. Beaumont renews her former 
courtship with the Colonel. 

Sunny Side. 1 Act. By C. M. Rae. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 urn. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. 
Margaret Burton, known as Da ; sy. 
young and pretty, lives with Angelina 
Tucker, old and ugly. They are 
terribly hard up, and the rent has to 
be paid. Frederick Lestock is 
mercenary, and has seen an advertise¬ 
ment seeking the whereabouts of one 
Margaret Burton, now an heiress. He 
imagines Angelina is the lady wanted. 
Her coarse manner, contrasted with 
the charms of Daisy, cures him of his 
mercenary folly. He proposes to 
Daisy, and discovers she is the heiress 
sought after. 

Winning; a Wife. 1 Act. By T. H. 

Lacy. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
Lady # Comedian: 1 Chambermaid. 
Captain Daring makes a wager to win 
Theodora Maisey within 24 hours, and 
gaining admittance to her house, 
through her dropping a book out of 
her window, attains his object within 
an hour. 


TWO MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 


FARCES. 


After Dinner. l Act. By Herbert 
Gardner. Modern Costume. Time 

30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 

Man; 1 Walking Gentleman: 1 Walk¬ 


ing Lady. Colonel Coldyoe has 
married Blanche, a romantic young 
lady, who imagines he does not love 
her. Mr. Peter Piper, having been 


THREE CHARACTERS. 


11 


locked out on an adjoining balcony, 
enters the room, and Blanche, though 
first taking him for a burglar, on 
discovering her mistake, induces him 
to act a love scene with her in order 
to arouse her husband’s jealousy. 
The Colonel discovers the plot, and 
makes Peter pretend to fight a duel 
with him, thus turning the tables on 
Blanche, and curing her of her 
imagination. 

Box and Cox. 1 Act. By M. 

Morton. 1 Bedroom Scene. Time, 
45 min. Modern Costume. 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman. This is 
undoubtedly the best farce ever 
written, and is almost too well-known 
to need any further description. Mrs. 
Bouncer obtains double rent for her 
room by letting it to Box, a printer 
engaged at night, and Cox, a hatter 
who is engaged during the day. Cox 
obtains a holiday, and the two un¬ 
expectedly meet, and after a boister¬ 
ous scene, they discover they are long- 
lost brothers. 

Brown the Martyr. 1 Act. By 

J. T. Lucas. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man ; 1 Walking Lady. A lady, 

•whose husband is of a very jealous 
disposition, finding that he is watch¬ 
ing her movements, resolves to pay 
him out, and how well she does it is 
herein described. 

Crazed. 1 Act. (Musical). By 

A. R. Phillips. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Chambermaid. This is a very 
comical piece, and has attained much 
popularity and success. Mr. Brown 
is a composer of operas, and Mr. 
Smith a writer of tragedies. They 
live together, and Mr. Brown’s play¬ 
ing interferes with Mr. Smith’s 
writing. One wants to rehearse the 
opera, and the other the tragedy. 
They compromise and agree to ass : st 
each other. They thereupon enl st 
the services of the servant Sally, and 
rehearse their respective works. This 
is brought to an abrupt conclusion by 
the return of the “missus.” 

Cupboard Love. 1 Act. By F 

Hay. Modern Costume. Time. 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians: 1 Walking T ady. Mr. 
Tissue sees a daily diminut on of some 
wine in his cupboard : he puts a pinch 
of narcotic in the bottle, and gives 
the key of his cupboard to his servant. 
His wife, imagining that he is keeping 
a secret correspondence, is desirous of 
looking into the cupboard to search 
for the letters. She ultimately opens 
the cupboard and takes some of the 
wine and an amusing scene follows. 


Great Demonstration. 1 Act. By 

I. Zangwill. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Vernon Howard, an 
amateur Socialist, takes into his con¬ 
fidence Bill Boggles, who immediately 
proceeds to rob him, which makes the 
former wiser than he was before. 

Lady Burglar. 1 Act. By E. J. 

Malyon and C. James. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 

Walking Lady. George Slumleigh 
meets Mrs. Marshall, a lady burglar, 
at a dance, and upon returning home 
finds that she has broken into his 
house. He is unable to get rid of her 
until she has blackmailed him. 

Packing' Up. 1 Act. By Harry 

Grattan. 1 Interior Scene. Time, 
16 min. Modern Costume. 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chugwater are about to 
start on their holidays. There are 
only a few minutes left before the 
train starts. None of Mr. Chugwater’s 
effects are packed, and in the hurry 
he manages to cut himself badly, lose 
his stud, and fall out with his wife. 

Send Thirty Stamps. 1 Act. By J. 
Keith Angus. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Chambermaid. Polly Simpson answers 
an advertisement purporting to supply 
a husband for 30 stamps. She is 
courted by Sam Tibbs; and Vincent 
Muggins, mistaking her apartments for 
those of a friend, makes his appear¬ 
ance, and is mistaken for the hus¬ 
band sent on receipt of the above 
amount. 

Silent Woman. 1 Act. By T. H. 
Lacy. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. Arthur 
Merton is in love with Marianne Sand- 
ford. but writes to her father that he 
is determined to marry a silent 
woman. He visits them, and Marianne 
pretends she is deaf and dumb. He is 
afterwards rejoiced to know she is not 
so. 

That Brute Simmons. 1 Act. By 

Arthur Morrison. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Interior Sc°ne. 2 
Low Comedians. 1 Lady Comedian. 
A carpenter, Simmons, is married to 
a heartless shrew, her first husband, 
supposed to have been drowned, being 
held up to him as an example every 
minute of the day. When, however, 
this worthy appears from the bottom 
of the sea the laugh is on the side 
of Simmons. Husband No. 1 has 
arrived for the levying of blackmail 
on No. 2; but Simmons is jubilant 


THREE CHARACTERS 


id 


at the discovery his marriage is 
illegal and leaves Mrs. Simmons to 
her own devices, not, however, before 
No. 1 has bolted through the window. 

Thorough Base. 1 Act. fMusical.) 
By T. E. Pemberton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. Bernard Bod- 
fish has a niece, Lennette, in love 
with Handel Hopcraft. The young 
people each supposes the other to be 
a lover of classical music. In order 
to bring matters to a satisfactory con¬ 
clusion, they all three endeavour to 
appear thorough musicians, but the 
desired end is brought about after 
they have undeceived themselves. 

Wanted a Young Lady. 1 Act. By 
W. E. Suter. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady Come¬ 


dian. Frank Mitchell calls at his 
grandmother’s in her absence, and 
hearing that she has advertised for a 
lady help, makes up as his grand- 
mot! er to receive the young lady. On 
her arrival he falls in love with her, 
and has to disclose himself and ask 
her forgiveness. 

Which Shall I Marry? 1 Act. By 

W. E. Suter. Modern Costume. Time, 
85 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Very laughable piece, 
and would suit country audience. A 
milkmaid is courted by a blacksmith 
and a young “ gent.” from London. 
Great amusement is caused by the 
gentleman first hiding in the flour-tub, 
and then in the coal-cellar, in order 
to escape the vengeance of the black¬ 
smith. 


COMEDIES 


Change of System. 1 Act. By 

Howard Paul. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Lyttleton Page is in love with 
a widoy?, Mrs. Darlington, but cannot 
come to the point, so his friend. Sir 
Charles Ripple, advises a change of 
system, and this proves effective. 

Cousin Zachary. 1 Act. By Herbert 
Gardner. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man: 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Zachary Binks, an elderly and bene¬ 
volent man, has brought up an or¬ 
phan, Maggie Marsden, and a young 
artist, Claude. He imagines they dis¬ 
like one another, and gets Claude to 
ask Maggie to be his (Zachary’s) wife, 
ilaggie, thinking that Claude does not 
tare for her, accepts her benefactor’s 
proposal out of gratitude. Zachary 
afterwards discovering Claude and 
Maggie to be in love with one an¬ 
other, pretends to be drunk, refuses to 
marry her, and unites the young 
couple. 

Cut off with a Shilling. 1 Act. By 
S. Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Juvenile Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile Lady. A nephew, having 
married without his uncle’s consent, 
is cut off with a shilling. The uncle 
is in the neighbourhood where they 
are lodging, and fleeing from a mad 
bull he happens to enter their apart¬ 
ments, and is so taken with his 
nephew’s wife that on finding out who 
she is, he eventually changes his mind. 

Fair Equestrienne. 1 Act. By Has- 
lingden Russell. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Lord Loftus and Lady Kitty 
Clare are engaged. Loftus has ar¬ 


ranged with a circus rider to have 
supper with him, when his friend, 
Charles Kinghorne, appears, induces 
him to go to Kitty, while he entertains 
the circus rider. Kitty arrives, and 
Kinghorne mistakes Her for the circus 
rider, with the result that he supplants 
Loftus in her affections. 

Golden Wedding. 1 Act. By Eden 
Phillpotts and Charles Groves. Modern 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Old Woman. 
Horace Courtley and his wife Adela 
are spending their golden wedding 
when they are visited by Admiral Fla- 
mank, a former lover of Adela’s. 
Horace and the Admiral quarrel in a 
similar manner to what they did fifty 
years ago, but Adela intervenes and 
smoothes all differences. 

I Love You. 1 Act. By W. Reeve. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Util¬ 
ity; 1 Lady Comedian. Captain Arthur 
Druce is in love with Lady Alice Win- 
grave, and writes her he will call. She 
determines to give him a cold recep¬ 
tion, but he finally wins her. 

In an Attic. 1 Act. By J. Wilton 

Jones. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene. Arthur 
Clarges, a banker, has married Rosa¬ 
lind. In order to win her he had to 
pretend he was ruined, as she hated 
wealth. They are living in an attic, 
when Arthur discovers he is really on 
the verge of ruin through the defalca¬ 
tions of his manager. His friend. Joe 
Dixon, a former lover of Rosalind, 
comes to the rescue, and the crisis is 
tided over. 

In the Season. 1 Act. By L. E. 

Mitchell. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 

Gentlemen; l Walking Lady. Ed- 


THREE CHARACTERS 


13 


ward Fairburne and Sybil March are 
really attached to each other, but an 
estrangement springs up. They meet 
at a ball and agree to have their last 
dance. In returning their letters and 
presents, they feel they cannot part 
with certain souvenirs, and a recon¬ 
ciliation takes place. 

Kitty Clive. 1 Act. Bv F. Frankfort 
Moore. Powder Period Costume. Time, 
85 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Kitty Clive, of Drury Lane, meets 
Jack Bates, a provincial actor, at an 
inn. Being unaware of her identity, 
he speaks in disparaging terms of her, 
and is much surprised when she dis¬ 
closes herself. 

Lesson In Harmony. Is. 1 Act. 

By Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Exterior Scene. 1 Comedian: 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian. 

The benignant influence of a good- 
natured friend, Otho Hazlewood, 
dramatic author, is brought to bear 
upon a young married woman, Mrs. 
Leslie, just in time to prevent her 
taking a course which would lead to 
serious results. Her husband t though 
passionately devoted to her is some¬ 
what peevish on account of “ city ” 
losses. A lucky stroke of fortune 
makes him possessor of a large for¬ 
tune, thus placing him in a, position 
to gratify his wife’s every wish. 

Mrs. Hilary Regrets. Is. 1 Act. By 
S. Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 
1 Lady Comedian. The latest pub¬ 
lished play by this celebrated author, 
and performed by Sir Charles Wynd- 
ham. Dr. Power orders Mrs. Hilary 
to abandon her dinner party, but for¬ 
getting to pest letters of regret, the 
guests are heard arriving, and no 
dinner prepared. Dr. Power contrives 
to dismiss them by intimating that 
fach would be the thirteenth at table. 

My Lady Help. 1 Act. By A. Mack- 
lin. Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. A splendidly 
written piece, and can be highly recom¬ 
mended. Jack Dcsborough. a poor 
artist, has married Lady Eva Des- 
borough without consulting his uncle, 
from whom he has great expectations. 
This uncle has made a fortune in 
butter, and hates the aristocracy. He 
visits Jack, and Lady Eva pretends 
she is a lady help. In thi3 disguise 
she so; captivates the uncle as to 
enable her to bring everything to a 
happy conclusion. 

Neuchars Junction. 1 Act. By 
Bertha Moore. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Jack Masters meets Helen 
Ormerod at a railway station. Jack is 


expecting his sister from India, whom 
he has not seen for eight years, and 
Helen expects her brother-in-law, 
whom she has never seen. They mis¬ 
take each other for tne individuals 
they are looking for, discover their 
mistake, aDd think it best to become 
engaged. 

Norah. 1 Act. By Re Henry. Modern 
Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Philip, the adopted son of Joe, 
falls in love with Norah (Joe’s wife). 
Joe upbraids his wife on account of her 
cold manner towards Philip, but asks 
forgiveness when he learns the true 
cause. 

Once Again. 1 Act. By F. W. Broueh- 
ton and Walter Browne. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 25 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Mary Harper, in consequence of 
her brother being killed at the war, 
comes into considerable property. 
Arthur Dalrymple is about to marry 
her for her money. Jack Trevor, an 
old lover, returns from the war. and 
in order to test Dalrymple, pretends 
he is Mary’s brother. Dalrymple, con¬ 
cluding she is penniless, bfeaks off 
the match, and being proved a villain 
is requested to quit the premises, leav¬ 
ing Jack and Mary lovers “Once 
Again.” 

Ruth’s Romance. 1 Act. By F. W. 
Broughton. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian. An exceed¬ 
ingly well-written play, and has been 
eminently successful. Captain Wilton 
is staying with his sister-in-law, Ruth 
Carey, in order to escape his difficul¬ 
ties. Ruth has fallen in love with 
Jack Dudley, who calls, and Wilton, 
mistaking him for a creditor, is very 
unfriendly. Ruth smooths away all 
differences, and then becomes engaged 
to Jack. 

Six and Eightpence. 1 Act. By H. 
B. Tree. Modern Costume. Time, 15 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Cyril and Grace, a newly 
married couple, have had a tiff, and 
each determines to consult a lawyer in 
view of obtaining a separation. They 
meet at the same lawyer’s, and are 
reconciled. 

Taken by Storm. 1 Act. By A. 
Maltby. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Y/alking Lady. Gertrude 
receives a sudden visit from Captain 
Richard Shye. commonly known as 
D iok. He tells her he intends to 
marry her. Gertrude regents, and war 
is declared. She i3, however, “taken 
by storm'* when she ltsms that her 
■money gees to him if she does not 
marry before she is tweoty-twc 


14 


THREE CHARACTERS. 


That Dreadful Doctor, l Act. By 
Sir C. L. Young-. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady. A 
young husband, desirous of hunting, 
is disappointed that his wife will not 
agree to him leaving her. He there- 
upoti writes to a friendly doctor to 
visit him, and cure her of this dis¬ 
agreement. The wife, however, writes 
to the doctor on the same subject, re¬ 
questing him to come and cure her 
husband. The doctor arrives, and in 
order to remedy matters he makes love 
to *he wife, which infuriates the hus¬ 
band, and their differences are settled 
by the doctor handing the wife’s letter 
to the husband, and the husband’s to 
the wife. 

Third Time (The). 1 Act. By C. H. 
Dickenson. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady. Colonel Lynton Harper and 
Alice Vernon meet in a waiting-room. 
They discover they are both visiting 
the same house to spend Christmas. 
Alice learns that Lynton was an old 
friend of her father’s, and the usual 
proposal is anticipated. 

Till the Half Hour. 1 Act. By A. M. 
Heathcote. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Professor Tidcombe calls on Mrs. Go- 
headly, an actress, to protest against 
his son marrying her daughter. Dur¬ 
ing the interview she manages to get 
his sanction to the match. 

Uncle’s Will. Is. 1 Act. By 3. 

Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. This well-known little 
play has achieved a success which 
is seldom reached, and certainly cannot 
be surpassed. An uncle leaves £50,000 
to a young couple, on condition that 
they marry each other, and the money 
is to be forfeited by the one who re¬ 
fuses the match. A most amusing dia¬ 


logue takes place between the two, who 
finally agree to marry. There is also 
another capital part, the will devising 
that should the young people both re¬ 
fuse to marry, the property is to go + o 
Mr. Barker, and the means this gentle¬ 
man uses in order to obtain the money 
tends to heighten the interest of the 
piece. 

Vol. III. 1 Act. By Walter Elli*. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 

1 Walking Lady. Philip Marigold and 
Edith Darell have quarrelled and 
broken off their engagement. Basil 
Whitmore arrives on the scene, and 
makes love to Edith, which causes 
Philip to quickly make it up. 

Wayside Cottapre. 1 Act. By Wm 
Poel. Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 
1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Chambermaid. A 
young couple, finding they are fore¬ 
stalled in the purchase of a cottage by 
an old man, adopt various disguises 
and annoy him, in order that he may 
be induced to leave. He discovers 
their object, and they are defeated. 

Weeds. 1 Act. By T. E. Pemberton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene: 2 Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian. A major having been re¬ 
fused by a widow (who wishes to marry 
for money) resolves to have his revenge 
by introducing a poor friend as a rich 
man. The friend happens to be an old 
lover of the widow, and the major’s 
plans are frustrated. 

Well Matched. l Act. Bv Philip 
Havard. Modern Costume. Time. 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mrs. Smyth desires her daugh¬ 
ter to marry in the peerage, and calls 
on a solicitor, Mr. Blinker, to see if 
he can find a suitable candidate. Mr. 
Blinker has, however, fallen in love 
with the daughter, and Mrs. Smyth 
meeting the Earl of Banford, becomes 
engaged to him, and gives her con¬ 
sent to her daughter marrying Mr. 
Blinker. 


DRAMAS. 


Ang-el of the Attic. (Serio-Comic.) 1 
Act. By Thomas Morton. Costumes, 
1792. 1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian. This is rather a 
serious play, and describes a young 
girl concealing the enemy of her lover 
during the French Revolution. 

Clock (The). 1 Act. By Charles Han¬ 
nan. Modern German Working Cos¬ 
tume. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Character Actor; 1 Walking Ladv. 
Henrich, a superstitious old watch¬ 
maker, promises Khoosh that he shall 
marry his daughter Netta, when the 
elock falls. Henrich has hoarded his 


money in this clock, and Khoosh makes 
it fall by slamming the door. 

Delicate Ground. 1 Act. By Charles 
Dance. Costumes, Period 1793. Time, 
1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light) 
Comedian; 1 Walking. Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian. Pauline and Citizen 
Sangfroid are married. She formerly 
had a lover, Alphonse de Grandier, 
whom she thinks dead. He returns, 
and it is Citizen Sangfroid’s duty to 
arrest him, but allows him to go free. 

Faded Flowers. 1 Art. By Arthur a 
Beckett. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene. Harold Beret- 


THREE CHARACTERS, 


15 


ford returns after a long absence, and 
▼isits his old chnm, Robert Elton, 
whose wife was once engaged to him. 
A pathetic scene follows, and Harold 
departs for Africa the same night. 

Grandad’s Darling. 1 Act. By Ed¬ 
mund Gurney. Modern Costume. Time. 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian' 1 Child Actress. 
Minnie lives with her grandfather 
Lovell, a blind inventor, who cannot 
succeed for want of money. Pattifat, 
a retired pork-butcher, wishes to adopt 
Minnie, but she does not wish to leave 
her grandfather. Pattifat then takes 
them both to live with him, and finds 
the needed capital. 

He that Will Not When he May. 

1 Act. By Herbert Gardner. German 
Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 
Lady Comedian. Countess Dora, a 
rich heiress, is instructed by the Old 
Count’s will to marry her cousin, Max, 
who by a codicil comes into the pro¬ 
perty should she ( refuse him. During 
a storm she takes refuge at an inn 
where Max arrives, and hearing that he 
has vowed he will not marry her, she 
assumes the disguise of the innkeeper’s 
daughter. Max falls in love with her, 
but she refuses him, and discloses who 
she is, but her cousin’s generosity in 
requesting her to burn the codicil sets 
matters right. 

Man in the Street. 1 Act. By 
Louis N. Parker. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. Philip Adare, 
an artist, has married a destitute girl, 
Minnie, whose parents had driven her 
into tbe streets. One of Harold’s 
models happens to be Minnie’s father, 
who wants to trade on her improved 
position, but his better nature prevails, 
and he takes his departure. 

Nita, the Dancer. (Melodrama.) 1 

Act. By Weller and Raphael. Modern 
Costume. Time, 20 m ; ns. 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian. Hon. 
Richard White and Edward Roxburgh 
are two old friends, but the former 
falls in love with the latter’s wife, 
Nita, to whom he is about to give a 
supper when curtain rises. White is 


made to shoot himself after a dra¬ 
matic scene with his friend, and Nita 
follows his example. Very strong: suit¬ 
able for professional performance. 

Our Bittcre6t Foe. 1 Act. By G. 0. 
Herbert. Modern Costume. Time, 24 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. A Prussian officer having been 
nursed by a young French girl, falls 
in love with her. Her lover (a French 
officer) Visits her in disguise, and tna 
General finding it out reminds him 
that he could shoot him as a spy, but 
gives the young lovers the necessa’-y 
pass to go through the lines in order 
that they may escape. 

Sad Memories. 1 Act. By Frank 
Withers. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Frenchman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Cynthia hides from her hus¬ 
band, Roland Carew, the fact that she 
has been previously married. Her 
first husband was killed, but his 
brother, who resembled him, attempts 
to blackmail her by stating he is her 
husband. He takes poison by mistake 
and confesses. 

Twilight. 1 Act. By Herbert Swears. 

Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene. Agnes Winthrop is in 
love with Frank Hartley, who many 
years previously had played a trick on 
Austin Merrick at college, by intro¬ 
ducing brandy into his beverage, when 
the latter had sworn never to take 
any intoxicating liquors. This deed 
makes Merrick a drunkard, and, in 
consequence, his mother dies of a 
broken heart. He afterwards falls in 
love with Agnes, only to find that he 
is forestalled by the very man who had 
inadvertently caused him all his 
misery. He departs to fight the battle 
of life alone, and leaves the lovers free. 

What Greater Love. 1 Act. By Sid¬ 
ney Bpwkett. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian. A story of 
the American War. Mona Carlisle’s 
lover, of U.S. Army, is condemned aa 
a spy. Captain Gordon, of the Con¬ 
federate Army who also loves Mona, 
meets Varney, but sacrifice# hi# life to 
save him for her sake. 


16 


FOUB CHARACTERS 


FOUR CHARACTERS. 


ONE MALE AND THREE FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Perfect Cure (A). 1 Act. By W. 

Sapte, junr. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. and 
Mrs. Spink are a newly-married couple. 


The latter is a bit of a vixen. k£r .' 
Spink consults a legal friend, who ad-' 
vises him to sing a tune every time 
her temper breaks out. The result is 
a perfect cure. 


COMEDIES. 


Baffled Spinster. 1 Act. By E. C. 

Smale. Modern Costume. Time, 15 
min 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Old Women; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Miss Patience Prim, a 
sedate spinster, has a very lively niece, 
Catherine Loveday. Through the in¬ 
fluence of a mesmerist, Catherine and 
Miss Prim are made to personate each 
other. Catherine’s lover, Frank Hal¬ 
dane, arrives, and is surprised to find 
Miss Prim act towards him as 
Catherine and vice versa. 

Compromising: Martha.. 1 Act. By 

Keble Howard. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian: 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Lady Comedian. An excep¬ 
tionally brilliant little play. The 
Squire’s daughter, Monica, has been 
indiscreet enough to fall in love with 
the local curate; the Squire’s preju¬ 
dice against curates is deep-rooted. 
No more secret rendezvous can be 
found than Martha’s cottage—a maiden 
lady of eighty-seven is Martha, whose 
sleep is as sound as the Squire’s pre¬ 
judice. Unfortunately for the pair, 
the old lady discovers the intrigue, and 
vows vengeance by exposure. In the 
dilemma, Monica decides the only 
method of retaliation is for the curate 
to kiss and thus compromise Martha. 

Extremes Meet. 1 Act. By Kate 
Field. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scenes 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian: 1 Frenchwoman; 1 
Child. A young lady and gentleman, 
who are very much opposed to matri¬ 
mony, meet in order to avert the in¬ 
tended alliance between their respec¬ 
tive brother and sister. They, however, 
finally manage to get engaged them¬ 
selves. 

Follow the Leader. 1 Act. By C. 
M. Rae. Modern Costume. Time, t 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lady; 
1 Utility. A pretty drawing-room play. 
A nervous young gentleman solicit* 


the assistance of his friend’s wife, in 
order to obtain the hand of a young 
heiress. 

My Son and I. 1 Act. By Ellen Lan- 

caster-Wallis. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Boy; 2 Girls. Mrs. 
Gerald, a widow, is contemplating a 
second marriage with Major Massing- 
ham; but her little son shows such a 
marked dislike for him, that on further 
consideration she refuses him. 

Neither of Them. 1 Act. By B. 

Cowen. Modern Costume. Time. 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man, 

1 Old Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have each 
selected a husband for their daughter, 
and neither will give way. The daugh¬ 
ter having chosen for herself, a mutual 
friend suggests that, this being the 
case, both parents should abandon 
their candidates, and this satisfies all j 
parties. 

Who Won? 1 Act. By Kate Goddard. 

Modern Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Woman; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman. 
Capta n Bingham is in love with Cyn¬ 
thia Fleming, who km ,vs he is railing 
to propose to her. Her friend, Joyce, 
bets her a new frock she cannot pre¬ 
vent him proposing, and the action 
discloses who won. 

Woman’s Wrongs. 1 Act. By A. M. 

Heathcote. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Utility. Mrs. Woodleaf has been 
bitten with the idea of the independ¬ 
ence of her sex. She has to be cured, 
so her husband causes bis sister to 
dress up and visit his wife as a strong- 
minded advocate of woman’s rights, 
while he disguises himself as her 
effeminate spouse. This spectacle nf 
masculine degeneration entirely altei* 
Mrs. Woodleaf’s ideas, and accom¬ 
plishes its object. 


FOUR CHARACTERS 


17 


DRAMAS. 


Cupid’s Messenger. (Poetical.) 1 
Act. By A. C. Calmour. Elizabethan 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady. This is 
written in blank verse, and was very 
successful on production. Fanny Wal- 
•ingham longs for the love of Sir 


Philip Sydney, who delays the expres¬ 
sion of his attachment until his sister, 
whom he has not seen for some time, 
disguises herself as a page, and pre¬ 
tends to be an ambassador of love 
from a great noble. This provokes the 
jealousy of the tardy lover, who forth¬ 
with declares his attachment. 


TWO MALES AND TWO FEMALES, 
FARCES. 


Beautiful for Ever. 1 Act. By F. 

Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
master and mistress have both pur¬ 
chased articles unbeknown to each 
other to make them beautiful for ever, 
and are bothered for payment. Their 
respective servants get hold of the 
compounds to try them, and one 
enters with her face marked with red 
spots, and the other with his hair 
turned green. 

Betsy Baker. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Costumes Modern. Time, 
45 min. 1 Room Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; A 
Chambermaid; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Mrs. Mouser complains that her hus¬ 
band is too attentive to her by half, 
whereupon Mr. Crummy introduces 
Betsy Baker, and induces her to 
captivate Mr. Mouser in order that 
his wife may be led to believe that he 
has bestowed his affection on another. 
Mr. Mouser will require a scalp wig. 

Bilious Attack. 1 Act. By A. 

Wood. Modern Costume. Time. 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Capt. Myrtle wishes to marry Mr. 
Jinniwin’s sister-in-law. # The latter, 
who is a bilious subject, imagines that 
he is after his wife. 

Bridget’s Blunders. 1 Act. By 
Lita Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian \ 1 Walking Lady ; 1 

Chambermaid. John Bolton and his 
Bweetheart, Nancy Tyne, have 
quarrelled, and in order to make it 
up they endeavour to give each other 
a present. These presents are done 
up in parcels and get mixed up with 
two other parcels belonging to Bridget, 
the housemaid, and Peter Smith, a 
piano tuner. 

Cosy Couple. 1 Act. By Slingsby 
Lawrence. Modern Costume. Time, 
60 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 
1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. A version ha* been played 


by Sir JSquire and Lady Bancroft, 
under the title of “ The Vicarage.” Jt 
represents a cosy ceuple being visited 
by an old friend of a roving dis¬ 
position, who persuades the husband 
to leave his home and travel with him. 
Ultimately the friend is induced to 
live with the “ cosy couple,” the 
thought of dying houseless and friend¬ 
less, surrounded by strangers, altering 
his resolution. 

Found in a Four-wheeler. 1 Act. 

By T. J. Williams. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Low Comedian; 1 Eccentrio 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. One of the most 
laughable farces ever written. An 
eccentric and jealous husband happens 
to overhear a conversation between 
his wife and a cabman who had coma 
to bring a smoking cap found in his 
four-w'heeler, after he had driven her 
and a gentleman (who eventually 
turns out to be her uncle) on the day 
previously. The husband immedi¬ 
ately imagines he has a rival, and a 
most ludicrous scene ensues, the cab¬ 
man being in the pay of both. 

Give a Dog a Bad Name. 1 Act. 

By Slingsby Law-rence. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Horace Ogle tries to 
make love to Anthony Dearlove’s 
wife, Charlotte. At first Dearlove, 
thinking he is only joking, takes no 
notice, but when he finds he is in 
earnest he quickly gets rid of him. 

Gentle Gertrude. 1 Act. By T. F,. 
Pemberton. Costume of any period. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 

. Chambermaid. This is a burlesque 
melodrama. At a certain inn kept 
by Giles Kowkrodger and his wife, 
the guests are murdered for the sake 
of their wealth, but very little is ever 
found on them. It transpires that 
their daughter. Gentle Gertrude, 
drugs the customers and robs them 
on her own account, before they meet 
their death at her father’s hands. As 
a denouement all the characters 
except Genlle Gertrude come to an 
untimely end. 


18 


FOUR CHARACTERS 


Laughing- Hyena. 1 Act. By B. 
Webster. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady: 1 Chambermaid. Mrs. 
Florence Fumer writes to Mr. Simon 
Hornblower, who lives opposite, 
entreating him to cease making tele¬ 
graphic signals to her as they 
create the jealousy of her husband. 
Mr. Hornblower thereupon calls, and 
meeting Mr. Felix Fumer, causes a 
boisterous scene. 


Mr, Johns’ Latch Key. l Act. 

By N. Robinson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A good low comedy 
farce. _ Mr. Joffins coming home 
rather intoxicated manages to get into 
the house of his neighbour, his latch¬ 
key fitting the door. He does not 
find out his mistake till the end. 

y Vif M ,s ° ut - 1 Act - By G-. H. 
Rodwell. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 mm. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. An 
artist’s wife hears that her husband 
receives visits from a young lady 
living opposite during her absence. 
Her brother calls on the husband, and 
discloses that he is in love with a lady 
and describes his s ster. Her husband 
18; of course, very jealous. Then the 
W’fe arrives dressed as a military 
officer, and declares he is in love with 
his wife. The brother and sister pre¬ 
tend to quarrel, and the hoax teaches 
the husband a lesson. 


Newspaper Nuptials. 1 Act. By 
Eilie Norwood. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man: 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Walking Ladies. Mrs. Golightly, a 
widow, is living with her step¬ 
daughter, Gertie, whose cousin puts a 
matrimonial advertisement in the 
paper for a joke, and one of the 
replies comes from Captain O’Brien, 
whose son Bertie is Gertie’s lover. 
Gertie thinks the letter comes from 
Bertie. The Captain appears in 
answer to the advertisement, and 
meets Bertie at the house. Com¬ 
plications arise through the ladies 
disguising themselves, the Captain 
finally becoming engaged to the widow 
and Bertie to the daughter. 


Only a Half-penny. 1 Act. By 
John Oxenford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 

Fitzroy Plantagenet owes £1,000 to 
a bill discounter, ana being unable to 
pay offers him his daughter in 
marriage. Mr. Stanley Jones calls, 
having previously lent the latter a half¬ 
penny to make up her bus fare. 
Hearing of the father’s difficulties, he 
ravs the £1.000, and marries the 
daughter himself. 


Optical Delusion. 1 Act. By I. R. 

O’Neill. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian: 1 Walking Gentleman: 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Mrs. Rivers _ receives a letter wh’ch 
creates the jealousy of her husband. 
Her cousin, Georgina, arrives in the 
disguise of a midshipman, in order 
secretly to meet her lover, and th s 
causes further jealousy on the part 
of Mr. Rivers, of which he is subse¬ 
quently cured. 

Slowtops’ Engagements. 1 Act. 

By C. S. Cheltnam. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40* min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Clarence Grayleaf. an 
independent gentleman, finds Mr. 
Slowtops’ pocket book, in which are 
entered his engagements. Mr. Gray¬ 
leaf thereupon fills Mr. Slowtops* 
engagements according to the entries 
in the book, one of which is to make 
love to a young widow whom he 
eventually marries. 

Terrible Secret. 1 Act. Bv J. S. 

Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Henpecker, who has been made i 
Freemason by his friend, Loosefish, 
suffers intense agony for fear he 
might divulge the secret. It sub¬ 
sequently transpires the ceremony he 
went through was a hoax, and his 
troubles are ended. 

Under the Rose. 1 Act. By 

George Roberts. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Light Comedian: 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Mrs. 
Marabou Magnet has several 
admirers, but falls in love with a 
young lawyer who has won a suit for 
her. In throwing a flowerpot from a 
window it happens to fall on 
Justinian Sheepshanks, and he ca ls 
in a great rage for an explanation. He 
happens to be the lawyer. 

Well Played. l Act. By A. F. 
Knight. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Major 
Alexander Popkiss is in love, and also 
in debt. He has a niece whom he 
wishes off his hands, so he invites her 
cousin, whom he has ney,er seen, and 
intends that they shall marry. This 
cousin cannot come, but sends his 
friend Cecil Oakleigh, who is accepted 
by Popkiss. The Major’s intended 
then deserts him, and in his dilemma 
he resolves on winning a former 
flame, who appears on the scene, and 
who happens to be the foster mother 
of CecU Oakleigh. 

Who Killed Cock Robin? 2 Act*. 

By C. Matthews. Modem Ccstume. 
Time. 1 hour 15 minutes. 2 Interior 


FOUR CHARACTERS. 


19 


Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Satanelia is in love 
with Robin. The latter not recipro¬ 
cating gets his friend, Jack Raggett, 
to make out he is dead. The latter 
does so and marries Satanelia, who 
afterwards accuses him of killing 
Robin. He has to admit that Robin 
is alive but is courting someone else. 

Woman that was a Cat. 1 Act. 

Costume, German. 1750. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Juvenile 
Gentleman; L Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. This is 
termed a Metamorphosiological 
Sketch. Walter Thule, a student, 
and his housekeeper, Martha, are in 
difficulties, and Martha tries to sell 


their cat. John Moritz, an Indian 

I 'uggler, gives him a ring, and by this 
le turns the cat into a woman and 
makes love to her. She purrs and 
acts like a cat and turns out to be 
his cousin who was only assuming the 
character. 

Young: Widow. 1 Act. By J. 
Thomas G. Rodwell. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Mandeville is in love 
with a young widow, Aurelia Fairlove. 
The latter disguises herself as a 
captain at a fancy ball, and Mande¬ 
ville seeing her enter her house in this 
costume mistakes her for a lover and 
is jealous. 


COMEDIES. 


Best Way. 1 Act. By H. Wigan. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2, Comedians; Lady 
Comedians. Ernest Speed and Theo¬ 
dore Tonic are both in love with Alice. 
Speed makes himself pleasant to 
Alice’s mother, and she thinks he is 
proposing to her. Tonic proposes to 
Alice, but is refused. Speed at length 
gets the mother’s consent to marry 
Alice, and Tonic, finding he has lost 
the daughter, tries to get the mother, 
but fails. 

Childhood’s Dreams. 1 Act. By 
Sir Charles Young. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Hugh Colerayne re¬ 
turns, having been absent for some 
years. He formerly had an attachment 
to Lady Richmond, who is now a 
widow and has another admirer. Hugh 
subsequently marries her sister, on 
finding that she has been correspond¬ 
ing with him in Lady Richmond’s 
name. 

Chrysanthemums. 1 Act. By A. C. 
Wallace. The Men’s Costumes are 
Ordinary Modern ; that of the Women, 
Japanese. 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Ladies. Colin 
Pirbright is in love with Sono, a 
Japanese girl, but his father will not 
hear of the marriage. He discovers 
that Sono’s mother was a former love 
of his own, and relents. 

Chums. 1 Act. By Sal Atticum. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 2 Walking Gentlemen; 
2 Walking Ladies. Lieut. Jack Bandle 
visits his old chum. Mr. Patterby. re¬ 
cently married, and recognising Mrs. 
Patterby’s dog as one he had given to 
Leila Sterling la lady he has .paid 
attention to), imagines that Leila is his 
chum’s wife. This leads to various 
complications before the final explana¬ 
tions are arrived at. 


Comedy and Tragedy. 1 Act. Trans¬ 
lated by William Robson. Louis 15th 
Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lady. 
A notary’s son falls deeply in love 
with an actress. The notary calls on 
the actress, and the play shows the 
fruitless means employed to turn the 
son’s infatuation. 

Deacon. 2 Acts. By H. A. Jones. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Tom Dempster is in 
love with Rosa Jervoise, an actress. 
He is visited by his uncle, Abraham 
Boothroyd, a deacon, who is a bitter 
opponent of the stage. Mrs. Boling- 
broke, who has brought up Rosa, en¬ 
counters the Deacon, induces him to 
visit the theatre, and rapidly converts 
his ideas. The uncle discovers Rosa to 
be his own daughter, and consents to 
her union with Tom. 

Doubtful Victory. 1 Act. By J. 
Oxsnford. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian, 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. Flower- 
dale and her niece Violet are respec¬ 
tively courted by Colonel Clive and 
Alfred Cleveland. Mrs. Floweidale en¬ 
deavours to get Cleveland to make love 
to her in order to make the Colon el 
jealous, but the latter finding this out 
turns the tables upon her. 

Fly and the Web. In 2 Acts. By A, 
C. Troughton. Costume, Period 1760. 
Time, 1 hour 45 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 2 Ladv Come¬ 
dians. A young wife whose husband 
is abroad is persecuted by the atten¬ 
tions of a coxcomb. His intentions are 
exposed, and she perceives how foolish 
she has been in listening to him. 

Gay Lothario. 1 Act. By A. C. Cal- 
mour. Costume, 18th Century. Time. 


2t> 


TOUR CHARACTERS. 


30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Sir Henry Lovell, a Gay 
Lothario, is in love with his cousin., 
Amanda Goldacre. She hears he has 
laid a wager to win her, and determines 
to give him a lesson. He finds this out, 
and pretends his affections were false. 
They are both* reconciled after he has 
fought a duel with a nobleman who 
has slandered her. 

Good Little Wife. In 1 Act. By T. 

H. Lacy. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Utility; _ 2 Lady Comedians. 
Mathilde is jealous because her hus¬ 
band has had a purse presented to 
him by another woman. He burns the 
purse, and matters are set right. • 

3-8i3 Toast. 1 Act. By A. M. Heath- 
cote. Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Lady Comedian. Ralph Briscoe, by 
his marriage with Lucy, has offended 
his aristocratic family. They are 
visited by Ralph’s mother and ancle, 
and Lucy is led to believe that Ralph 
had proposed a toast to another 
woman, and that she was not the Gist 
to win his heart. _ A reconciliation 
takes place when it is discovered that 
Ralph’s toast was to his own mother. 

Marble Arch. 1 Act. By E. Rose and 
A. J. Garraway. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Walking Gentlemen ; 2 Walking Ladies. 
In order to test his affection for his 
wife, Constance Cameron causes an 
anonymous letter to be sent to Jack 
Mereweather, making an appointment 
to meet a lady at Marble Arch. Jack 
declines, but his friend Captain Tren- 
tham goes instead, and meets Con¬ 
stance herself, and falls in love with 
her. The wife at first thinks her hus¬ 
band has been ensnared, but is re¬ 
joiced upon discovering the truth. 

Mem VII. 1 Act. By Walter Ellis. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 

2 Walking Ladies. Henry Temperlev, 
an absent-minded individual, loses his 
pocket-book containing mems. Esme 
Dashwood, a lively, young gent, finds 
the book and carries out the mems, 
intruding upon a young lady, wno 
turns out to be an old sweetheart, and 
he renews his vows. 

Old Friends. 1 Act. By Lady Violet 
Greville. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Alice Mowbray, discovering 
her sister to be in love with her be¬ 
trothed, generously sacrifices her own 
happiness to insure that of her sister’s. 

Postscript. 1 Act. By F. Hamilton- 
Knight. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 


1 Walking Lady. Harold Trehern* 

has saved Marjorie Fleming’s life. They 
love each other, but cannot marry, as 
she is engaged to her guardian, Sir 
Clive Cutler, who, recognising the 
situation by means of a postscript to 
a letter, tells Marjorie that Harold has 
the right to guard her life, and forth¬ 
with releases her. Sir Clive, discover¬ 
ing in Harold’s stepmother an old 
flame of his, renews the courtship, and 
is accepted. 

Purely Platonic. 1 Act. By Mrs. 

Alec Smart. Modern Costume. Time, 
18 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Walking Ladies. . Mr. 
Lorimer and Mr. Travers are friends. 
Each takes the other’s wife out to 
dinner and they meet at a restaurant, 
where a lively scene takes place. 

Richard’s Play. 1 Act. By Rowsell 

and Dilley. Costume 1735. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Old Man: 2 Walking Ladies. 
Richard Maitland, a poor poet, and 
his sister, have sheltered an orphan, 
Sylvia Deloraine, with whom Richard 
has fallen in love. Sylvia proves to 
be an heiress, and her uncle wishes to 
take her away. Richard then hears 
that a play of his has been accepted, 
and the uncle agrees to his union 
with Sylvia. 

Shades of Night. 1 Act. By R. 
Marshall. Costumes, Period 1770, and 
modern. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gen¬ 
tleman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. In the year 1770 Sir Ludo- 
vic Trevett was supposed to have mur¬ 
dered the Lady Mildred Yester, and a 
curse is on his house and line 
until two of their descendants plight 
their troth within the same walls. The 
phantoms appear each year and enact 
the tragedy. This is witnessed by two 
of their descendants, Captain Trivett 
and Winifred Yester, at the present 
period, who plight their troth, and 
the curse is broken. 

Steeple Jack. 1 Act. By T. E. Pem¬ 
berton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 

1 Chambermaid; 1 Walking Lady. 
The wife of a steeplejack fearing the 
safety of her husband, who has taken 
too much drink, arranges to perform a 
hazardous task in his place. The hus¬ 
band thinks she has eloped. The wife 
returns after accomplishing her object, 
and explanation results in a vista of 
happiness. 

Storm in a Tea Cup. In 1 Act. By 
Bayle Bernard. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. Room Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian1 Chambermaid. The cabman 
mentioned in the book is usual'y 
omitted. Mr. and Mrs. Summerly are 
packing up to go on the Continent, 
when a letter arrives which the servant 


FOUR CHARACTERS. 


21 


lets fall into the ink and obliterates 
the name. Mrs. Summerly claims it, 
and Mr. Summerly states it is from a 
Bister of his rival; a scene ensues, and 
on closer examination Mrs. Summerly 
declares the letter is for him, and 
from a rival of hers. Ultimately it is 
discovered the letter belongs to the 
father. 

Sug;ar and Cream. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Hurst. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A father and 
eon are both averse to matrimony, but 
the former wishes the latter to marry, 
eo writes a letter to a young widow 
to clear the way for him. This letter 
reads as if the father were proposing to 
the lady. The son and widow rcal se 
the situation, and turn the tables on 
the father. 

Sweethearts. In 2 Acts. By W. S. 
Gilbert. Modern Costume. Time, 55 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Old Man; 1 Lady Comedian; ] 
Walking Lady. (This successful little 
lay can be highly recommen 'ed. 
wo sweethearts. Harry Spreadbrow 
and Jenny Northcott. misunderstand 
each other. They part, and meet on 
the same spot 30 years after. Explana¬ 
tions follow, and the curtain descends 
on their mutual happiness. 

Sympathetic Souls. 1 Act. By 
Sydney Grundy. Modern Costume 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 
1 Lady’s Maid. Captain Palliser, who 


has lost his fiancee, calls on Mrs. Bell- 
ringer, who has just been left a widow, 
in order to take over her furnished 
house, which she is desirous of letting, 
and they so sympathise with each other 
over their lost loves that they make a 
match of it. 

True Colours. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Hurst. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. George Warren is in love 
with a young heiress, Kate Trave: s, 
but will not propose on account of his 

f )overty. A Captain Fortescue seems 
ikely to win Kate, but George’s 
mother, forging a telegram, induces 
him to believe he has won £50,000, and 
this causes him to declare his affec¬ 
tion. 

Two Photographs. 1 Act. By A 

Clements. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Miss 
Pipkin and Mr. Slater, through an 
advertisement, have corresponded 
under assumed names, and exchanged 
photographs, with a view to matri¬ 
mony. They appoint to meet quietly 
at Mr. and Mrs. Hodge's boarding¬ 
house. and Miss Pipkin, arriving, con¬ 
fides in Mr. Hodges, giving him 
Slater’s photograph. Slater doing the 
same with Mrs. Hodges, giving her 
the photograph of Miss Pipkin. It 
transpires that Slater and Miss Pipkin 
are old lovers, the photographs of each 
being taken many years previously. 


DRAMAS. 


Barbara. 1 Act. By J. K. Jerome. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Man; 1 Lady Comedian; 
1 Walking Lady. One of the most 
•uccessful pieces ever written. Bar¬ 
bara is an orphan living with her 
friend, Lillie, who has a lover in Cecil 
Norton. Cecil is poor, but a doctor 
Arrives and informs Barbara that he 
has had £300 a year left him. It is 
explained that this money was left to 
his sister, who is supposed to have 
been drowned. Barbara discovers she 
is this sister, but generously conceals 
her identity in order to complete the 
happiness of Cecil and Lillie. 

Bittersweet. 1 Act. By Charles 
Kitts. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Mrs. Blakestone was formerly in love 
with Gerald Goodheart. but hearing he 
was killed she married h.pr present 
husband, who brings a friend home 
who happens to be Gerald. The latter 
has lost his sight, but recognises her 
voice, and a pathetic scene occurs. 


Carrots. 1 Act. By Alfred Sutro. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian: 
1 Utility. “ Carrots,” a lad of sixteen, 
is hated by his mother. His father, in 
despair at his wife’s vixenish charac¬ 
ter. as revealed after marriage, i3 not 
aware of this estrangement. At length 
it becomes known to him. He deter¬ 
mines. after a talk with the boy. to put 
his foot down, and to stand by bis son. 
A scene follows, but the father gains 
the day. 


Dream Faces. 1 Act. By Wynn 

Miller. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. A very 
charming and successful play; highly 
recommended. Aunt Margaret, many 
years previous to the opening of the 
piay, has been engaged to a scoundrel, 
Bobert, who has jilted her, married 
another woman, and finally been im¬ 
prisoned for forgery. On his convic¬ 
tion his only child. Lucy, has beea 
adopted by Aunt Margaret. Ju»t M 


22 


FOUR CHARACTERS 


Lucy becomes engaged to Philip, 
Robert returns from abroad, to levy 
blackmail from Aunt Margaret, or, in 
despite of that, to claim his child. 
Margaret works on his better nature, 
and induces him to depart without 
disclosing his identity to his daughter. 

Gipsy (The). 1 Act. By Charles 
Hannan. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Maud is en¬ 
gaged to Geoffrey, and is supposed to 
be the niece of Sir Aubrey, but. is 
really his daughter, her mother being 
a gipsy whom he has cast off. The 
gipsy returns aftrv twenty years and 
exposes him. Geoffrey remains true, 
and the gipsy takes poison. 

In Honour Bound. 1 Act. By Syd¬ 
ney Grundy. Modern Costume. Time, 

40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Philip 
Graham and Rose Dalrymple are en¬ 
gaged. Sir George Carlyon is Rose’s 
guardian, and learning that Philip 
had a former attachment (which hap¬ 
pens to be Sir George’s wife) insists 
that he should have written proof that 
he is off with his old love. Lady Carl¬ 
yon leads an unhappy married life, 
and gives Philip the required letter, 
and Sir George, realising the situation, 
generously burns this telltale docu¬ 
ment without reading it, and a better 
understanding is arrived at between 
husband and wife. 

Jack White’s Trial. 1 Act. By F. C. 

W. Parr. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. Jack 
White has been cruelly jilted. He ac¬ 
cidentally meets with his old college 
chum, Lord Amesford, to whom he 
relates his romantic story. . Lady 
Amesford enters, and he recognises in 
her the woman who had wronged him. 
She urges him to forgive her, and not 
tell her husband, and his better nature 
prevailing, he consents. Husband and 
wife depart, leaving Jack White to 
conquer his sorrow in solitude. 

Mr. Steinmann’s Corner. 1 Act. 
By Alfred Sutro. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
The marriage of Percy Hardwicke 
and his wife is admitted to have been 
one of reason—she, the daughter of 
a wealthy stockbroker; he, a part¬ 
ner in the firm. Percy returns home 
one night with the announcement 
that a Mr. Steinmann has effected 
a corner among a group of specu¬ 
lators, and unless he (Percy) can find 
thirty thousand before the morrow 
he will be hammered. He entreats 
his wife^ to lend the amount. She 
refuses indignantly and quits the 
room with the offer to provide him 


with sufficient to pay ten shilling* 
in the £. Nora, a girl Hardwicke has 
jilted to marry his wife, is ushered in. 
She has heard of his misfortune. 
Steinmann is eager to marry her, and, 
though she loathes him, she has con¬ 
sented on the condition that he shall 
release Percy from all obligation. 
This is her revenge on the man who 
wronged her. Hardwicke is horrified, 
but Nora is firm and he is helpless. 

Nearly Severed. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Hurst. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 

1 Walking Lady. A Yorkshire weaver, 
Sam Eckersley, and his wife have 
Carrie Sprent, a young governess, 
lodging with them, who is dismissed 
from her employment in consequence 
of her lover’s attentions. Sam espouses 
her cause, which excites his wife’s 
jealousy, and a stormy scene follows. 
Carrie’s lover remains faithful to her, 
and these two effect a reconciliation 
between husband and wife. 

Nicolete. 1 Act. By E. Ferris and 
A. Stuart. Period about 1814. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. 
Horace Villiers anticipates making his 
name famous by the production of his 
opera. He is in love with Helene, a 
prima donna, who is aoout to play in 
an opera by Paul Lamont, who is also 
in love with Helene. It transpires 
that Lamont’s opera is a stolen copy 
of Villiers’ work. Helene discovers 
this, and bestows her hand on Villiers 

Old Garden. 1 Act. By Hill Davies 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Comedian; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Mildred Saadford is in 
love with David Brice, but is afraid 
to accept him as her old lover Phi'ip 
Melville, may return. Rose Harmer 
comes to stay with her, whose lover 
calls. This happens to be Philip Mel¬ 
ville, and their engagement sets Mil¬ 
dred free. 

One of you must marry, (Comic.) 
1 Act. Modern Costume. Time, 46 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Comedians; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Two 
Professors of the University are very 
much averse to matrimony. It being 
their father’s dying wish that one of 
them must marry, they draw lots which 
it should be. The loser being obliged 
to marry, and not knowing how to set 
about it, gets the winner to show him 
how to make love to their cousin. In 
doing so he actually falls in love with 
her. 

Open Gate. 1 Act. By C. Haddon 
Chambers. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. Half Interior and half Ex¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. A gate has been kept open is 


FOUR CHARACTERS. 


23 


Aunt Hettie's garden for 20 years. She 
nan quarrelled with her lover, and she 
vows it shall not close until his re¬ 
turn. Her niece, Jessie, makes a 
similar mistake with her sweelhrait, 
but is induced by her aunt to summon 
mm back. In the meantime Aunt 
Hettie’s faithful admirer returns, the 
gate closes, and all are made happy. 

The Pity of It. 1 Act. By Ian 
Robertson. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Maid. 
Captains Bond and Hilliard come to 
say good-bye to Rhoda Irwin before 
sailing for India. Bond, who calls first 


and is very much in love, is snubbed 
by her, and when Hilliard oomrs, 
though she is in love with him, he 
treats her with indifference. 

Sotting; of the Sun. 1 Act. By 

Charles Hannan. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Exterior Scene* 1 
Old Man* 1 Walking Gentleman, 2 
Walking Ladies. Janet MoorfUld, the 
elder of two sisters, is engaged to a 
young soldier. She discovers that her 
younger s : ster and her betrothed are 
in love with one another, and sacrifices 
her own happiness to procure that of 
her sister. 


THREE MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 
FARCES. 


Ample Apolofcy. 1 Act. By George 
Roberts. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. A gentleman 
has been annoying a married lady by 
sending her a quantity of valentines. 
The wrath of thf> husband is aroused, 
and the wrong party suspected, who is 
a mild and nervous young man, and 
who is eventually induced to offer an 
ample apology. 

Billy Doo. l Act. By C. M. Rae. 

Modern Costume. Time. 40 min. 1 
Exterior Scene: 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Old Man; 1 Chambermaid. An old 
gentleman indignantly pulls down the 
bills pasted on his premises. The bill 
sticker returns, and seeing a young 
man on the place, accuses him of spoil¬ 
ing the bills. A comical scene follows. 

Comical Countess. 1 Act. By Wm. 
Brough. Costumes 1760. Time. 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Light Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian. The plot is the same as 
“ The Lucky Hit,” described under list 
of comedies. 

Dentist’s Clerk. 1 Act. By E. Von 
Culm. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Lady. A 
dentist engages a coloured servant, 
who performs on the various cus¬ 
tomers in a most amusing manner. 

Judged by Appearances. 1 Act. 
By F. Fenn. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Arthur Denison and his 
wife, Helen, quarrel. Before she re¬ 
tires for the night he tells her he will 


cause her no more trouble. While the 
husband is toying with a revolver a 
burglar breaks in, and Arthur asks 
him to do him a favour by shooting 
him. but the burglar refuses to be 
made a murderer, and a good tragi¬ 
comic scene is followed by reconcilia¬ 
tion on the part of husband and wife. 

Our New Man. 1 Act. By W. E. 
Suter. Modern Costumes. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Lady Comedian. Mr. and Mrs. 
Muddlebank engage a footman, and 
they each discover him as a waiter at 
Cremorne, where they had been un¬ 
known to each other. They both bribe 
him to keep the matter secret, but dis¬ 
cover he has never recognised them. 

Pork Chops. 1 Act. By E. L. Blan¬ 
chard. Time, 25 min. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. 4 Interior Scenes; 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. A Penny- 
a-liner having had supper on pork 
chops, dreams of the murders and 
crimes he writes about. His dream i» 
here enacted, and in the last scene he 
wakes up. 

Romance Under Difficulties. 1 

Act. By F. C. Burnand. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. Bedroom 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. Timothy Diggles falls in love 
with Fanny Newberry, living in a floor 
below, and her lover, Frederick Mark¬ 
ham, in endeavouring to visit her, gets 
into Diggles’ rotpm. Fanny Newberry 
enters, and is discovered in this room 
by her father, and after explanations 
gives his consent to her marriage with 
F rederick. 


COMEDIES. 


April Folly. 1 Act. By J. P. Hurst. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Lady Comedian. A 
young widow, Emily Graham, is en¬ 
gaged to be married to Joseph Ruggles, 
% middle-aged gentleman. Ernest 


Featherleigh, an artist, falls in lorn 
with her, and declares his passion. It 
being the 1st of April, Emily fxjls her 
admirer, and pretends to break off her 
engagement with Ruggles. She after¬ 
wards convinces them that it is a bit 
of “ April Folly.” 


24 


FOUR CHARACTERS. 


Aubrey Closes the Door. 1 Act. 

By Cosmo Hamilton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian. Hav¬ 
ing a suspicion that his senior officer, 
Major Aubrey Seend, is in love with 
Enid Brookwood, Lieutenant Hailing 
rushes from the South African boat 
at Southampton to her home in order 
to get his declaration in first. Ner¬ 
vousness prevents him carrying out 
his intention, and the Major arrives, 
whereupon Hailing informs him Enid 
is to be his wife. The Major turns 
to quit the house, but Hailing, 
awakening to Enid’s love for Aubrey, 
rushes out and sends him back. 

Bailiff. 1 Act. By F. W. Broughton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min 7. 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. Daniel 
Gratton has involved himself in em¬ 
barrassments, in consequence of 
putting his name to a bill, which his 
brother has dishonoured. This brother 
returns from abroad, and pretends he 
is a bailiff come to take possession. 
He finally discloses that he is now 
rich, and has come home to pay his 
debt. 

By Special Request. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Watson. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. 
Mr. Stannard has certain love letters 
written him by Lady Dene prior to her 
marriage. These he emrdoys to obtain 
a private meeting with her. The hus¬ 
band discovers this, and interviews the 
gentleman himself, resulting in the 
letters being put in the fire by the ser¬ 
vant. 

Clerical Error. 1 Act. By Henry 
Arthur Jones. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene. 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady. 
The Rev. Richard Capel’s ward. 
Minnie Heritage, has become so en¬ 
twined about his heart that existence 
without her would be a blank. By 
accident, he discovers a paper, on 
which she has written “ Mrs. Richard 
Capel.” He conc’udes his love is 
returned, and broaches the question. 
Minnie agrees to marry him on 
account of his goodness to her, but 
the Clergyman discovers, it is a 
nephew he once banished in disgrace, 
now thoroughly reformed and eminent 
who was in her mind when she 
penned “ Mrs. R. Capel.” 

Conversion of Nat Sturgre. 1 

Act. Bx Malcolm Watson. Modern 
Costume. - 1 Interior Scene. Time, 35 
min. 2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian. Nat Sturge is 
busily burgling the safe at the Bishop 
of Minterweir’s residence, when he is 
disturbed by the entrance of the 


Bishop himself. The revei md gentle¬ 
man takes little notice of Nat’s re¬ 
volver, and in return for sundry 
threats asserts he has a proposition 
\o make. He obtains possession of 
the weapon, and states he will give 
Nat the gold he is searching for if he 
(the burglar) will marry Julia, a 
foundling, left a. a legacy by his late 
wife. The lady has a craze for re¬ 
forming bad characters. Eventually 
he decides for “ seven years’ 'ard ” in 
preference, but is allowed to depart 
a free man. 

Elsie’s Rival. 1 Act. By Dora V. 

Greet. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady. Elsie Grant overhears a con¬ 
versation between her lover and 
brother; the former is expressing ad¬ 
miration for a certain dog, and E'sie 
imagines he is referring to another 
lady. A quarrel and explanation fol¬ 
low, the dog enters and is greeted as 
“ Elsie’s Rival.” 

Faint Heart which Did Win a air 
Lady. 1 Act. By J. P. Wooler. 
Costume, reriod 1670. Time, 40 mm. 

1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Walking .Lady. 
Conrad and Peter are students in love 
with Rosa. Peter will not stand in the 
way of his friend, who is poor, and 
sends her presents which she th-nkg 
come from Conrad. She finds this out, 
and dressing in male attire she finds 
Conrad only wants her for her money, 
and offers herself to Peter. 

First Experiment 1 Act. By J. 
Wilton Jones. Modern Costume. 
Time 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian. Mart ; n Lawler, a 
retired tradesman, has Jong, since pro¬ 
mised his daughter, Olive, in marriage 
to Nicholas Kebbletnwaite, an unedu¬ 
cated Yorkshireman. who induces him 
to dismiss the servants and make his 
daugnter useful. She is requested to 
prepare dinner, and with the aid of 
her lover, the Hon. Percy Desmond, 
she makes a sad muddle of her first 
experiment. Percy discovers Nicholas 
to be the dishonest steward of his 
father. 

First in the Field. 1 Act. By Charles 

Marsham Rae. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Waging Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady. Two elderly brothers 
have property left them as long as 
they live and should they rema : n 
single and leave no issue, it goes to 
their nephew. They have brought up 
a daughter of an old comrade, and in 
order that she ^nay eventually possess 
the property, rney draw lots as to 
which should marry her. She h*d, 
however, fallen in love with ths 
nephew, who was “ First in the Field.” 


four characters. 


25 


Friend in Deed. 1 Act. By Frank 
Kunchman. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Jack Thornton has mar¬ 
ried without the knowledge of his 
uncle in Australia, who has been mak¬ 
ing Jack an allowance. Jack gets into 
difficulties, and when the uncle sud¬ 
denly returns he finds a man in pos¬ 
session. lie pays out the man, and 
proves a friend in deed. 

Hogmanay. (New Year’s Eve.) 1 
Act. By Fred W. Sidney. Modern 
Costume, Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Scotchman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Margaret trcaisdale has married her 
lover, Jack, against her father’s wishes, 
whose only objection to him is his lack 
of money. Sanders McLachlan, a 
Scotchman, and uncle by marriage of 
the girl, comes to spend New Year’s 
Eve with the young couple, and suc¬ 
ceeds by a very humorous device in re¬ 
conciling all parties as the bells ring 

. in the glad Netv Year. 

Hook and Eye. 1 Act. By Eille Nor¬ 
wood. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
m n. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Walking Lady. 
Edward Fairleigh meets Sylvia Sel- 
bourne at the cottage of an old army 
pensioner, and falls desperately in love 
with her. She is the sister of an old 
college chum, but he mistakes her for 
the pensioner’s daughter. Sylvia and 
her brother keep up the joke. A good 
scene follows, when Fairleigh in ask¬ 
ing for the hand of the young lady 
from the old man, is thought to be 
negotiating for a horse. 

Lucky Hit (A). 1 Act. By Howard 

Paul. Costume, Louis XV. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Light Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian. A chevalier has unfor¬ 
tunately wounded a lady in the dark 
during a fete; he imagines it is the 
favourite of the Regent, and adopts 
the disguise of a valet in order to save 
himself. He enters the house of a 
Marchioness, and finally marries h^r, 
discovering that she is not only the 
lady whom he had previously fa len in 
love with, but also the one that re¬ 
ceived the wound. 


Merrifield’s Ghost. 1 Act. By H. 
M, Pauli. Modern Costume. Time 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. John Gordon, a draughtsman, 
has forged Wm. Merrifield’s signature. 
Merrifield rises in the world through 
Gordon’s designs, continually threat¬ 
ening him with exposure. Gordon’s 
son falls in love with Merrifield’s 
daughter. Merrifield will not at first 
consent, but does so after exposing 
the father, whom he takes into part¬ 
nership. 

Trick. 1 Act. By William Mus- 
kerry. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady. Founded on 
same subject as Quiet Rubber,” so 
successfully played by Mr. Hare. An 
impecunious Nobleman and Son (Doc¬ 
tor) are guests of a retired tradesman, 
whose daughter is engaged to the son. 
The parents quarrel over Whist, 
the Doctor administers anaesthetic to 
his father, and persuades him it has 
been all a dream. 

Too Happy by Half. 1 Act. By 

Julian Field. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Page Boy; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Jack Verner has been 
married six months, and is still honey¬ 
mooning at a quiet* little place in the 
country. His wife is inclined to bo 
jealous, and he is bored to death. A 
friend, Jack Fortescue, comes to see 
him, and they talk over old times and 
plan an expedition to town for a few 
days. His wife overhears the conver¬ 
sation, and threatens to leave him. He, 
however, pretends that it was a plot 
concocted by Fortescue and himself to 
cure her of her jealousy, and all ends 
happily, the wife consenting to return 
and live in town. 

Victor Vanquished. 1 Act. By 

Charles Dance. Costumes, Charles XII. 
of Sweden. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Gothic Chamber; 1 Comedian: 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Utility: 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Ilka is engaged to a soldier who 
has displeased the king and has been 
ordered to be shot. The king falls in 
love with her, and so great are her 
powers of persuasion that she is able 
to obtain a pardon for her lover. 


DRAMAS. 


Absence of Mind. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By Wm. Poel. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene: 2 
Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Matthew and Nathan are 
two old pensioners, and live together. 
The laxter’s son returns, having pre¬ 
viously stolen £5 of his father’s and 
run away. The pensioners think he is 
going to rob them, instead of which 
he gives his father £20, and marries 
Matthew'* daughter. 


Counsel’s Opinion. 1 Act. Bv F. 

Bingham. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Boy; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Sir John Bendwill, a 
wealthy O.C., who has disowned his 
daughter through her marrying against 
his will, is alone in his chambers in 
the Temple, when he is disturbed by 
a little boy who has wandered up 
the stairs, leaving his mother in the 
Gardens outside. The boy cuts his 


28 


POUR CHARACTERS. 


finger with a penknife, and the mother 
is called in, and turns out to be Sir 
John’s daughter. A reconciliation 
takes place. 

Cross Roads. 1 Act. By J. J. Dilley. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian. Gilbert 
Rollistone has been tried for murder¬ 
ing the camp parson and acquitted, 
but the miners decide to lynch him. 
He visits Faith Middleton and in¬ 
forms her he killed the parson because 
he had slandered her. The parson, 
who was Faith’s husband, was a dis¬ 
reputable character, and Faith pacifies 
the lynchers by telling them the cir¬ 
cumstances. 

Fennel. I Act. By J. K. Jerome. 
Costume, 1750. Time, 45 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Old Man; I Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Giannina Ferrari is beloved by 
her father’s apprentices, Sandro and 
Filippo, the latter a cripple and hunch¬ 
back. Her father is determined she 
shall marry the -winner of a prize for 
the best made violin. Filippo, know¬ 
ing Sandro and Giannina love each 
other, wins the prize after unsuccess¬ 
fully endeavouring to exchange his 
own violin for that of his rival, but 
generously gives up his claim to 
Giannina’s hand to ensure her happi¬ 
ness. 

Harmony. 1 Act. By H. A. Jones. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min.. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Michael Kinsman, a 
blind old organist, is dismissed for 
drunkenness. He is bitterly disposed 
towards Frank Seaton, the new 
organist, who is secretly engaged to 
his ‘daughter. In order to gain the 
old man’s consent to their union, 
Frank manages to get him reinstated 
to his old post. 

Love in Humble Life. 1 Act. By 
J. H. Payne. Peasant and Military 
Costumes. Time, 45 min. Exterior 
Inn Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Chambermaid. 
Ronslaus, a soldier, stops at a village 
inn, and falls in love with Christine, 
the mistress. She has a poor lover, 
Carlowitz, who offers to give her up to 
Ronslaus. The latter will not hear of 
this, and paves the way for her mar¬ 
riage with Carlowitz. 

Lucky Escape. (Comic.) 1 Act. Bv 
C. S. Cheltnam. Costume, Louis XV. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. The Chevalier de Bregy is in 
love with Louise d’Harville, but also 
(alls in love with the Baroness d« 


Blignac. Louise disguises herself as 
the Baroness, and causes him to marry 
her. 

Month after Date (A). 1 Act. By 

S. Dauncey. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Frank Clive is in the employ 
of Benjamin Cumber, who is staying 
at an inn at Jacob’s Wells. He mis¬ 
appropriates thirty pounds to assist 
his mother. This money has to be re¬ 
paid. He falls in love with the land¬ 
lord’s daughter, and she is the means 
of getting him through his difficulties. 

My Friend Jarlet. 1 Act. By A. 
Golsworthy and E. B. Norman. 
Modern Military and French Cos¬ 
tumes. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady. Paul and Jarlet are 
two friends beleaguered in a country 
village by the Prussians. Paul is in 
love with Marie, the adopted daughter 
of the landlady. Jarlet has been a 
scamp, and had deserted his wife and 
child; the former is dead, the latter 
proves to be Marie. Paul is taken 
prisoner with others, and three have 
to be shot. Paul volunteers, but Jar¬ 
let takes his place, and dies for the 
sake of his friend and child. 

State Prisoner. In 1 Act. By W. 
Gowing. Costume, Commonwealth. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Lady. A Royalist is taken prisoner 
by a captain of the Republic. The 
captain is about to be married, but his 
intended bride falls in love with the 
Royalist, whose pardon arrives, and 
the captain gives up his claim to the 
lady’s hand. 

Wayfarers. 1 Act. By Herbert 
Swears. Costume 1802. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Juvenile; 1 Walking Lady. M. de 
Montboissier, a poor French refugee, 
lives in Soho with his daughter, Julie. 
She is loved by Paul, son of her 
father’s old enemy. De Montboissier 
forbids the marriage, but on Paul re¬ 
storing to him his violin, which has 
been seized for rent, he relents and 
accepts him for his son-in-law. 

White Stocking;. 1 Act. By E. 
Ferris and A. Stuart. Costume, 1785. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady. Captain Faversham 
has made a bet to hold up a lord, but 
by mistake robs the Rev. John Staple- 
ton. Faversham afterwards puts up 
his horse, which has a white stocking, 
at the Reverend’s house, where he is 
recognised, and refunds the money, 
after falling in love with the daughter. 


FIT® CHARACTERS. 


27 


FIVE CHARACTERS. 


Acacia Cottagre. 1 Act. By 
Orange. Modern Costume. Time, 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian ; 3 Walking Ledies ; 1 Old Woman. 
The Marker family are anxiously await¬ 
ing the initial visit of the gentleman 
recently become engaged to a daughter. 
By an unfortunate misreading of 
“ Azalea ” for “ Acacia ” Cottage (the 
Markers’ house), Herr Adolf Schmidt 
arrives with firm intention of shower¬ 
ing music lessons on the girls. The 
latter imagine him to be their future 
brother-in-law, and no end of trouble 
ensues. 

Sweet Will. 1 Act. 

Modern Costume. 

Interior Scene; 
man; 2 Old 


Ladies. Will Darbyshire and Judith 
Loveless secretly love each other. He 
refrains from disclosing his affection 
because he is, by the fault of his 
father, reduced to poverty. Will’s 
mother advises Judith to pretend to 
accept another suitor. Although this 
apparently makes matters worse, it 
afterwards leads to a satisfactory con¬ 
clusion, and Judith discovers she has 
been left a fortune. 

Two Naughty Old Ladies. 1 Act. 

By Ada Rose. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Low Comedian; 3 Old Women; 1 
Lady Comedian. Two weak maiden 
ladies are domineered over by an old 
servant. They are visited by a strong- 
minded friend, who endeavours to get 
rid of the servant, but fails. 


ONE MALE AND FOUR FEMALES. 
COMEDIES. 

B. 


By H. A. Jones. 
Time. 50 min. 1 
1 Walking Gentle¬ 
women; 2 Walking 


TWO MALES AND THREE FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Christmas Boxes. 1 Act. By A. 

Mayhew and S. Edwards. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 2 Low Comedians; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. Relates 
the troubles of two husbands with re¬ 
gard to Christmas Boxes, how they 
wanted to deprive their wives of them, 
and the manner the wives punished 
them. 

I>id You Ever Send Your Wife to 
Camberwell? 1 Act. By J. S. 
Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Ladies: 1 Old 
Woman. Mr. Honeybun sends his wife 
to Camberwell, and during her absence 
Mr. Crank calls. Mrs. Crank after¬ 
wards enters, and finding her hus¬ 
band’s hat in the room thinks it is 
his apartment. Mrs. Honeybun re¬ 
turns, and meeting Mrs. Crank, pro¬ 
ceeds to create a great disturbance. 

Highwayman's Holiday. 1 Act. 
By W. E. Suter. Period, 1770. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A stingy 
old gentleman will not deliver up his 
ward’s property. The ward, with her 
companion and the maid servant, dress 
up as highwaymen, and force him to 
submit. 

In for a Holiday. 1 Act. By F. C. 
Burnand. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Chambermaid. Gustavus Popple is in 
love with Amelia Waggles. He goes to 


Cremorne with Mrs. O’Bobster whose 
husband finds it out, and also the 
widow. They both call at the same 
time for an explanation, and Popple 
has difficulty in pacifying them. 

Jessamy'9 Courtship. 1 Act. By 
C. H. Hazelwood. Modern Costume. 
Time, 32 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Old 
Woman. A capital farce. A spinster 
receives some loving epistles from an 
unknown admirer. Mr. Adolphus 
Jessamy is slyly courting her niece, 
and finding him in the house she mis¬ 
takes him for her lover. 

Kiss in the Dark. 1 Act. By J. B. 

Buckstone. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. Room Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid; and 1 

Utility. A husband induces his friend 
to make love to his wife in order to 
test her affection for him, and the wife 
overhears the scheme. Great amuse¬ 
ment is caused by the manner she 
turns the tables upon her husband. 

Man who Wasn’t. 1 Act. By H. A. 
F. Ransom. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; I Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
Dick Lowe is in love with his axrnt’s 
ward. The aunt repulses him. Dick 
induces an upholsterer to act the part 
of a lover to the a\mt. She finds this 
out. and warns Dick off f r six months 
as a punishment. 


or- fast 


28 


FIVE CHARACTERS 


Margate Sands. 1 Act. By Wilmot 

Harrison. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 2 Exterior Scenes; 2 Low 
Comedians; 2 Old Women; 1 Walking 
Lady. Requires a little practicable 
scenery. It describes tbe result of a 
mother-in-law’s interference with a 
young couple’s affairs. 

Married Rake. 1 Act. By C. Selby. 

Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
«-] Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
i Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Mrs. Trictrae dresses 
as a young military officer, and pre¬ 
tends to flirt with Mrs. Flighty in 
order to cure the latter’s husband of 
his tendency to flirt with another 
woman. 

Merry Meeting;. 1 Act. By W. 

Lestocq. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Mrs. Agnes Ardent 
does not care for the secluded life laid 
cut for her by her husband, and an 
animated conversation takes place. A 
second young couple are introduced 
whose married life is not altogether a* 
it should be, and it is only when the 
four parties meet that peace is re¬ 
stored. 

My Husband’s Secret. 1 Act. By 
W. D. Whitty. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. A gentleman is desirous of 
keeping his marriage from his aunt 
until a favourable opportunity offers 
for an explanation. His wife is un¬ 
aware of this, and getting possession 
of a letter from the aunt to him, she 
imagines it is from an inamorata. 

. Obliging; a Friend. 1 Act. By W. 

Reeve. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman- 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Frank Dutton, in order to win a 
wager and to obtain money to get 
married with, advertises for a gover¬ 
ness. His sweetheart arrives as an ap¬ 
plicant, and he gets his friend to in¬ 
terview her. This friend’s wife also 
applies, and Frank Dutton has to 


oblige his friend in a similar way, 

They are afterwards recognised by 
these ladies and are forgiven. 

One too many for him. 1 Act. By 
T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A father will not allow 
his daughter to marry, and refuses all 
suitors; an impetuous bachelor arrives, 
who proves one too many for him. 

Phantom Breakfast. 1 Act. By 
C. Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Describes the many inter¬ 
ruptions a hungry young man en¬ 
counters to prevent him having a 
breakfast. 

Poor Pillicoddy. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 55 
min. Scene: Pillicoddy’s Nursery 
Grounds; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Pillicoddy marries a young widow, and 
is in doubt whether her former hus¬ 
band, Captain O’Skuttle, was drowned 
or not. A Mrs. O’Skuttle visits Mrs. 
Pillicoddy in distress, and is followed 
by Captain O’Skuttle, a cousin of Mrs. 
Pillicoddy’s first husband, of the same 
name. Mr. Pillicoddy mistakes him 
for his wife’s former husband. 

Twice Told Tale. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Parlour Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Light Comedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Utility. For jealous 
motives, Mr. Breezley introduces his 
wife to Mr. Percy Gauntlett as his 
cousin, and also introduces his cousin 
to him as his wife, a proceeding which 
he ultimately regrets. 

Widow Bewitched. 1 Act. By W. 
J. Lucas. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Shows how a married lady is 
thought to be a widow, during her 
husband’s absence abroad. Her hus¬ 
band returns, and she pays him out 
for his jealousy. 


COMEDIES. 


Bearding: the Lion. 1 Act. By C. 

S. Fawcett. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Chambermaids. A daughter has a 

{ rrim, gruff, and gouty old commodore 
or her father, and in order to gain his 
consent to her marriage, she dresses 
up as a midshipman, and causing her 
lover to assume the part of a footman, 
thoroughly succeeds in her object 


Change Partners. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian ; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. 
Charles Gust is about to marry Mrs. 
Somerton, who is somewhat his senior, 
and his father calls in order to pro¬ 
pose for the hand of Mrs. Somerton’* 
daughter, whom he has met while she 
was at school. This young lady is a 


FIVE CHARACTERS. 


• 29 


regular tomboy, and in the end the 
father and son agree to change part¬ 
ners. 

Hearts. 1 kct. By W. E. G-olden. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 lady Comedian; 1 
Wa king Lady; 1 Utility. Two lovers, 
Jerome Rutledge and Marion Caiew, 
have quarrelled, and Marion becomes 
engaged to an elderly man, Cuthbert 
Devlin. Mrs. Cavend’sh has, some 
time previously, quarrelled with Dev¬ 
lin in a similar way. She manages to 
re-unite the young lovers, and renews 
her former attachment to Devlin. 

Law v. Love. 1 Act. By George 
Linley. Modern Costume. Time, 32 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
2 Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
A lady is having a law suit with a 
gentleman whom she meets under an 
assumed name, and he falls in love 
with her. 

Love’s Alarms. 1 Act. By C. M. 
Rae. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene' 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Titus Tiverton wishing his love affair 
to be full of alarms, escapades, 
iealousies, and rivalries, his lady love 
gets an actor to dress up as a Peruvian 


and Mr. Titus Tiverton is enabled to 
obtain his requirements with a ven* 
geance. 

Maid of Honour. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Elizabethan Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Comedian; 3 Lady Comedians. Laura 
D’Urbino, a maid of honour, disguises 
herself as Count Cesario, and before 
being discovered gets the Duchess of 
Carrara to fall in love with her, and 
offer her her hand and heart. 

Pretty Piece of Business. 1 Act. 
By Thomas Morton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Car tain Merryweather 
unexpectedly arrives at his fiancee’s 
house, and there meets a young widow. 
The widow mistakes the captain for 
the fiancee’s brother, and the real 
brother for the captain, which causes 
a pretty piece of business. 

Q.E.D., or all a Mistake. 1 Act. By 
F. A. Marshall. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Old 
Women. A professor known under the 
name of Q. E. D. is expecting a visit 
from a young lady, and Major Spangle 
having advertised for a wife under the 
same initials, the two ladies get ex¬ 
changed. 


DRAMAS. 


Leonore. 1 Act. By H. W. C. Newte. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady. David 
Castleton has rescued a woman from a 
shipwreck, thinking her to be his wife. 
The shock has affected him so much 
that he loses his memory, and thinks 
the woman really is his wife. The real 
wife appears, and. seeing what has 
happened, she departs, never to return. 

Step-Sister. 1 Act. By W. Sapte, 
jun. Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Ben Potter has a blind 
daughter, Mary. He has also living 


with him Emily, a daughter of bia 
second wife. Mary is engaged to be 
married to John Carter, who has, un¬ 
fortunately. also fallen in love with 
Emily. When this discovery is made, 
Mary generously sacrifices her own 
happiness to secure that of her step¬ 
sister. 

Wild Flowers. 1 Act. By E. Rose. 

Modern Costume. Time. 25 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. Ed rar Horton is 
engaged tq Lillian Ashbury, who is 
about to marry him for his money. 
He finds this out, and subsequently 
marries his cousin. May. 


THREE MALES AND TWO FEMALES. 


FARCES. 


Absent Man. 1 Act. By J. Roberts. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Man; 1 Eccentric Come¬ 
dian j 1 Chambermaid; 1 Walking 
Lady. Marmaduke Maze, an absent- 
minded man, forgets to meet his wife 
at the railway station. Captain Flut- 
terbuck sees her home, and is invited 
in. Finding the husband rather eccen¬ 
tric, he pays too much attention to 
her, and is got rid «f 


Area Belle. 1 Act. By W. Brough and 
A. Halliday. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A servant is courted by a 
policeman, a soldier, and a milkman. 
A most amusing scene is described by 
these three calling while the mistress 
is absent. The two principal low 
somedians' parts were originally plaved 
by Messrs. Toole and Bedford. Very 
good part for chambermaid. 


80 


FIVE CHARACTERS. 


As like as two Peas. 1 Act. By H. 

Lille. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians. 
Mrs. Richards hears of her husband 
being seen leading a gay life, when she 
thought he was at business. He tries 
to exonerate himself by declaring that 
it is another party as like him as two 
peas. 

A. S. S. 1 Act. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mr. Diogenes Hunter, in anti¬ 
cipation of his daughter’s w'edding with 
a Mr. A. Sparrow, has had the linen 
and plate marked “ A. S. S.” Mr. 
Sparrow marries another lady, and 
much amusement is caused by Mr. 
Hunter endeavouring to find a hus¬ 
band with the same initials. 

Borrowed Plumes. 1 Act. By C. A. 

Maltby. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. This is one of the most laugh¬ 
able farces ever written, and is very 
popular. Mr. Tattleton is about to 
visit Miss Violet Bibbins, to whom he 
is betrothed by his father. The idea 
of such a marriage not being favour¬ 
able to him, he dresses up an ostler to 
represent himself, while he takes the 
part of Captain Slasher, a friend. A 
most comical scene ensues. The ostler 
imbibes too much. The servant girl 
to whom he is engaged denounces him, 
and the plot is discovered. However, 
Mr. Tattleton falls in love with Violet, 
and his father’s request is complied 
with. 

Cantab. 1 Act. By T. W. Robertson. 

Modern Costume. Time, 52 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility (Policeman); 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
Cambridge student imagines he has 
killed a bargeman in a fight, and flees 
to his married sister’s house. A most 
amusing scene ensues with his sister’s 
husband. Finally a telegram is re¬ 
ceived stating the bargeman has re¬ 
covered. 

Capital Match. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. Room Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Sunnyside is in love with a widow, Mrs. 
Singleton, who makes out she will not 
marry before her niece, Rosamond. 
Sunnyside tries to find a match for 
Rosamond, but discovers she is already 
secretly married. Mrs. Singleton hear¬ 
ing this marries another gentleman, 
and leaves Sunnj'side out in the cold. 

Chi«**»llinp-. 1 Act Rv J. J. Dilley ar.d 
J. Allen. Modern Costume. Time, 40 


min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady, 
Mr. Larkspur is in love with a young 
lady whose uncle will not allow her 
to marry him, unless he produces a 
statue that would stand the test of his 
criticism. Mr. Larkspur buys a plaster 
model to show the guardian, who, 
being short-sighted, would not know 
it from marble. Just before the old 
gentleman arrives the model is 
smashed by the housekeeper.. Mr. 
Larkspur thereupon dresses his ser¬ 
vant Trotter up as Alexander the 
Great to represent the statue, and one 
of the most comical scenes ensues that 
was ever introduced into farce. 

Cool as a Cucumber. 1 Act. By 
W. Blanchard Jerrold. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Room Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 

Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Plumper, a 
gentleman as cool as a cucumber, calls 
on old Barkins, falsely stating that he 
has met the latter’s son abroad. The 
real son secretly returns, not wishing 
to be seen by his father, and Plumper, 
mistaking him for a thief, creates an 
uproarious scene. 

Day in Paris. 1 Act. By C. Selby. 
Modern Costume. Time, 55 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Chambermaid. An imper¬ 
sonation farce in which the lady suc¬ 
cessively represents a female barber, 
a tiger, a sentimental lady, and a 
French officer. 

Done on Both Side*. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour. I Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
and Mrs. Whiffles, living on a pen¬ 
sion of a hundred a year, wish to find 
a rich husband for their daughter. 
Mr. Brownjohn, who is in search of a 
rich wife, arrives on the scene, and 
they each imagine the other to be the 
possessor of wealth. The fun is 
heightened by the arrival of Whiffles* 
cousin, Mr. Phibbs, whom they try to 
pass off as their servant. 

Don’t Judge by Appearances. ] 

Act. By J. M. Morton. Modern Cos 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interioi 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Walking Lady. Major Pepper has 
two nieces, but of different disposi¬ 
tions; he endeavours to choose a hus¬ 
band for each, suitable to their respec¬ 
tive characters. The nieces, however, 
select the reverse. 

Eton Boy. 1 Act. By Edward Morton. 
Modern Costume. Time. 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Cham- 


31 


FIVE CHARACTERS 


bermaids. Fanny dresses up as an 
Eton boy, and impersonates her cousin 
Tom, in order to prevent her marriage 
with Mr. Dabster, whom her father 
wishes her to marry. Her lover, Cap¬ 
tain Popham, calls, and Dabster, owing 
him a grudge, gets him to make up 
as Fanny, which brings the lovers 
together, instead of doing the reverse. 

Fifteen Years’ Labour Lost. 1 Act. 

Old Fashion Costume. Time, 40 min. 
Garden Scene, with house and wall 
containing practical door to open with 
spring; 2 Comedians; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Walking Lady; and 1 Lady Comedian. 
A youth, being kept secluded all his 
life by his father, has never seen a 
woman, and he meets one for the first 
time. 

Freezing- a Mother-in-Law. 1 Act. 

By T. E. Pemberton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 48 *n;n. 1 Interior 

Scene; 1 Gid Man; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. 
A mother-in-law has to be frozen in 
order to gain her consent to her 
daughter’s union. She discovers the 
plot, substitutes water for the freezing 
fluid, and pretends it has an equal 
effect upon her. She, however, finds 
that her daughter’s lover is worthy of 
her, and gives her consent. 

He’s a Lunatic. 1 Act. By F. Dale. 

Modern Costume. Time, 40 mm. 
Drawing-room Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. March Hare is in love with 
Arabella Hanwood, who wants a sensa¬ 
tion. He therefore visits her, and 
feigns madness. He discovers a burg¬ 
lar in the house, whom he effectually 
disposes of, and Arabella accepts him 
out of gratitude for saving her pro¬ 
perty and providing her with the re¬ 
quired sensation. 

Keep Your Eye on Her. 1 Act. By 
T. J Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 48 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Eccentric Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. A lover requests his 
friend to keep his eye on the young 
lady of his choice during his absence. 
Difficulties and misfortunes attend 
him in doing so. 

Lad from the Country. 1 Act. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Peck- 
over has a country yokel for his ser¬ 
vant, and in order to save his furniture 
from an execution he makes it over to 
him for a time. This individual ulti¬ 
mately will not give it up, and a most 
laughable scene occurs between the 
master and man. The Lad from the 
Country then marries the maid-servant 
©f the house. 


Larkins’ Love Letters. 1 Act. By 

T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Bob¬ 
bins purchases some of Mr. Larkins’ 
furniture, in which are concealed Lar« 
kins’ Love Letters. The lady to whom 
they were written has married Colonel 
Boyleover, who learns about the let¬ 
ters, and is anxious to obtain them. 
He visits Bobbins’ house for this pur¬ 
pose, but meets Mr. Lynx, who is in¬ 
structed by Larkins to get the letters 
at any price, and a farcical scene 
follows. 

Little Back Parlour. 1 Act. By E. 

Stirling. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. A jeweller 
congratulates himself on his happi¬ 
ness; matrimonial jealousies ensue, 
but, after explanations, all is set right. 

Little Change, 1 Act. By S. Grundy. 

Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Lady Comedians. A 
young married couple are staying at an 
hotel, and require a little change from 
the monotony of the honeymoon. They 
accordingly each flirt with a Captain 
and Mrs. Plunger. The chief fun in 
the piece lies in the fact that neither 
of the married couple nor Captain and 
Mrs. Plunger know that their partners 
are married. 

Lottery Ticket. 1 Act. By S. Breaz- 

ley. Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 
1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Cne 
of the best of the old farces. The plot 
is very amusing, and the manner in 
which a Lottery Ticket gets transferred 
to various hands is ingeniously con¬ 
structed. 

Make Yourself at Home. 1 Act. 

By Alfred Maltby. Modern Costume. 
Time. 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Flamingo Gull finds a 
letter inviting someone to claim cer¬ 
tain money. He thereupon acts as an 
impostor and visits the writer, whom 
he bamboozles, and also the rest of the 
characters, but is afterwards exposed. 

Margery Daw; or, The Two 
Bumpkins. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Costume, 1796. Time, 48 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Lady Arabella has 
been betrothed to Robert Dovington, 
but the latter falls in love with Mis¬ 
tress Margery, the proprietress of a 
dairy farm, who has her own lover. 
Robert’s father orders him away for 
aix months to forget her, but he M* 


32 


FIVE CHARACTER! 


sumes the character of a clodhopper 
and remains. On meeting Lady Ara¬ 
bella he is so smitten with her charms 
that he discloses himself and they be¬ 
come engaged. 

Miss Tibbet’s Back Hair. 1 Act. 
By N. Robinson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. and 
Mrs. Toplet having let their servant 
out for a holiday, they hear that their 
uncle is about to arrive. For fear of 
displeasing him, Mr. Toplet dresses as 
the maid servant, using the clothes 
and back hair of Miss Tibbet, his 
lodger. 

My First Fit of Gout. 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. Lady Janet, with the help of 
her manservant, Tony, puts something 
in her husband’s boot which makes 
him think he has an attack of gout, 
and keeps him from meeting several 
ladies with whom he is fond of flirt¬ 
ing. 

My Friend from Leatherhead. 1 

Act. By E. Yates and N. H. Harring¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Room Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chambermaid. Mrs. Squiffem is an¬ 
noyed by Mr. Loophole’s attentions, 
and complains to her husband, who 
has invited a friend from Leatherhead. 
This friend happens to be Mr. Loop¬ 
hole, who, seeing his mistake, dis¬ 
guises himself, and endeavours to 
escape. He afterwards apologises and 
stays. 

My Very Last Proposal. By A. J. 

Phipps. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Drawing-room Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian ; 1 Policeman; 
1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Adonis Gilliflower gets into trouble 
through his many proposals. He be¬ 
comes engaged to his landlady upon 
learning she has come into £5,000. 

Nabob for an Hour. 2 Acts. By 
John Poole. Old Fashioned or Modern 
Coslume. Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Miss Leslie will not marry Mr. 
Frampton on account of her own 
poverty and his wealth. Mr. Framp¬ 
ton thereupon gets an old servant to 
represent a rich uncle of Miss Leslie’s, 
who impresses her with the belief that 
she is rich. She finds out the plot, but 
finally consents to marry him. 

Newington Butts. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 


Man; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Two ladykillers are endeavour¬ 
ing to get an introduction to a young 
■widow, and the way each tries to out¬ 
do and disparage the other affords 
much fun. 

Night at Notting Hill. 1 Act. By 
E. Yates and N. H. Harrington. 
Modern Costume. Time, 28 . min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Low r Comedians; 1 
Policeman; 1 Old Woman; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. This is a noisy and scream¬ 
ing farce, relating the terrors cf a 
domestic couple on account of the 
burglaries in the neighbourhood. 

Old Moss. 1 Act. By F. D. Head. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man (Jew); 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Boy; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Reginald 
Brown, a poor artist, is pressed for 
his rent by Old Moss. In order to sell 
his pictures he spreads a report h( is 
dead. His works are then purchased, 
his debts paid, and he is enabled to 
obtain the consent of his fiancee’s 
mother to their union. 

Once a Week. 1 Act. By Wilmot 
Harrison. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Jeremiah 
Jinks and Nathaniel Nibbs are bo h 
courting the. same lady. One is 
allowed to visit her on Wednesday, and 
the other on Thursday. Upon dis¬ 
covering this they each try to ouldo 
the other, only to find a third party 
has carried off the lady. 

On the Sly. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 48 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Wa’king Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
husband unconsciously gets inveirled 
into a flirtation with his wufe’s dress¬ 
maker, and his nervousness at the 
idea of being found out serves as a 
medium for some good fun. 

Photographic Fix. 1 Act. By F. 
Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Ladies. Ebenezer 
Staggers and Bob Cropp call on 
Michael Angelo Chrome, a photo¬ 
grapher, to complain of bad work. 
They meet the latter’s sister there, who 
. is engaged to Michael, and also a Miss 
Diana Duff, who was once engaged to 
him. Poor Michael has a/ lively time 
of it. 

Pleasant Neighbour. 1 Act. By 

Mrs. Planche. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian : 1 Chambermaid. A 

cobbler, Christopher Strap, and his 
wife, show Sir George and Lady Eliza¬ 
beth what true happiness is, in their 
affection for one another, and provs 


FIVB CHARACTERS 


S3 


♦fcat contentment is far better than 
riches. 

Prima Donna. 1 Act. By Max Pem¬ 
berton. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian: 1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Lady Comedians. This 
ns an exceedingly clever little play. 
The flush. of success on the operatic 
stage has influenced Rachel Dutrecy to 
the extent of making her something of 
a tyrant. Due to sing at the St. 
Petersburg Opera on a December 
night, she receives, much to her de¬ 
light, a proposal from Prince Koch- 
karyov a couple of hours before the 
curtain is raised. Guttmann, the 
opera director, arrives. Dutrecy 
announces to him her intention of at 
once taking a trip to Berlin—she is so 
lonely! In reality, she is to be mar¬ 
ried to the Prince forthwith. Gutt¬ 
mann is furious—the Emperor will 
hold him responsible. The Prince 
calls, he considers Guttmann an un¬ 
due nuisance, and orders bis arrest. 
Dutrecy inquires of the Prince his 
(Giittmann’s) destination, and, on 
being informed Siberia, she hastens to 
sing before the Emperor and implore 
the director’s life. 

Sea Gulls. 1 Act. By C. A. Maltby 
and J. Stainforth. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Mr. Spiffins informs his 
daughter, Sophie, she is to marry Mr. 
Valentine Pouter, coming from Lon¬ 
don. She objects, and Mr. Pouter re¬ 
ceives such a warm reception at the 
hands of her lover, Mr. Valentine 
Rattleby, and herself, that he is glad 
to return. 

Silent Protector. 1 Act. By T. J. 

Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
4o min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. An unmarried lady 
lives alone under the name of Mrs. Ar¬ 
lington. Her Silent Protector is a 
full-sized portrait of a gentleman, 
which she represents as her husband, 
whom she is always expecting. 

8omebody Else. 1 Act. By J. R. 
Planche. German Costume. Time, 1 
hour. Scene, a Wheelwright’s shop; 
1 Comedian; 1 Light Corned’an; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Ernest Wa'd- 
burg returns after 12 years’ absence 
with Herr Flitterman. whom he wishes 
his sister, Louise, to marry. He had 
left Louise in charge of Hans Moritz, 
who had fallen in love with her, but 
not wishing to marry her without the 
brother’s consent, he gets engaged to 
Minnie. The brother afterwards is be¬ 
trothed to Minnie and Hans to Louise, 
Herr Flitterman being told to find 
Mmebody else. 

9 


Teacher Taught. 1 Act. By E. 

Sterling. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Light Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Describes 
the courtship of Mr. Henry Aubrey, 
who has the misfortune to have a fri¬ 
volous father. 

Three Cuckoos. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Costume, William III. Time 
4C mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 

V alking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Col. 
Cranky mistakes the lovers of his 
daughter and maidservant for burglars. 
He is much relieved when he finds out 
his mistake, and consents to their 
union. 

Tom Noddy’s Secret. 1 Act By 

T. H. Bayly. Costume, 1660. Time 
45 mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Comedian; ^ 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies. Tom Noddy, who 
many years previously had a little girl 
entrusted to his care, is a^bout to be 
visited by the father who imagines 
the child was a boy. The young lady 
dresses in male attire to meet her 
father. 

Tomkins the Troubadour, l Act. 

Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Shop Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Wilkins calls at 
an ironmonger’s shop to discover a 
young man his daughter has fallen in 
love with. Robinson and Tomkins 
(two assistants) each c^aim to be the 
man, but the latter proves to be the 
right one. 

Trials of Tomkins. 1 Act. By T. 
J. Williams. Modern Costume. Time* 
40 min. 1 Exterior Scene: 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 

V alking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 

Describes the trials a father puts a 
bachelor to, who comes to propose for 
his daughter. 

Turn Him Out. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. One of the most successful 
farces ever written, and has almost 
attained the popularity of “ Box 
and Cox.” A lady during her 
husband’s absence, is followed 
home by a dandified gentleman, 
and the servant gets her sweet¬ 
heart, an itinerant vendor of toys, to 
turn him out. The husband returns, 
and he is mistaken for the dandified 
gentleman, and in consequence is sub¬ 
ject to very rough treatment at tha 
hands of the toy-seller. 

Twenty Minutes with a Tiger. j 

Act. Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 

1 Old Man; 1 Lew Comedian;. J 


34 


FIVE CHARACTERS 


Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Charles Beeswing enters the house of 
an irascible old gentleman, overcomes 
his little peculiarities, and eventually 
marries his daughter. 

Ugly Customer (An). 1 Act. By T. 

J. Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Tragedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Simon Coobiddy, 
a retired grocer, receives a visit from 
a fierce-looking individual, who pro¬ 
ceeds to annoy him in a most ferocious 
manner. 

Very Serious Affair. 1 Act. By A. 
Harris. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mr. Theophilus sits on Mr. 
Molly’s hat at the theatre, and they 
are to meet next morning. Theophilus 
is frightened, and runs away from his 
lodgings, but his new rooms turn out 
to be in the same house as those of 
his rival. He thus gets out of the 
frying-pan into the fire. 

We All have Our Little Faults. 1 
Act. By W. E. Suter. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. A 
carpenter is led into dissipation by a 
friend, a journeyman tailor. The 
wife rebels Against his conduct, and 
brings him back to reason by allowing 
the friend to make love to her. 


Where’s Your Wife? 1 Act. By J. 

V. Bridgeman. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; f 
Low Comedians; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Lady Comedian. Showing the pecca¬ 
dilloes of two husbands during the ab¬ 
sence of their wives. 

Whitebait at Greenwich. 1 Act. 

By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Chambermaids. A 
brother and sister, in order to obtain 
their aunt’s money, are to remain 
single. They, however, marry un¬ 
beknown to each other, and go with 
their respective consorts quietly to 
partake of whitebait at Greenwich. 
They are attended there by a waiter 
who by accident they happen to en¬ 
gage afterwards as their own servant, 
and whom they immediately recognise. 
The manner in which they bribe this 
waiter, to the bewilderment of himself, 
forms the amusement of the play. 

Who’s Who, or, All in a Fog. 1 Act. 
By T. J. \. iiliams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 48 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Very good farce, and has 
achieved a great success, and is one 
of the most popular of the author’s 
writing. A country gentleman is ex¬ 
pecting a lover for his daughter, and 
a new valet. On the valet arriving he 
is mistaken for the lover, and the lover 
is subsequently mistaken for the valet. 


COMEDIES. 


Anthony’s Legacy. 1 Act. By A. J. 

Charleson. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Walking Ladies. Uncle Anthony has 
left his niece, Violet Agate, £15,000, 
and his niece, Polly Agate, £500. By 
a former will their positions were re¬ 
versed. Complications arise out of 
this with their lovers, which are after¬ 
wards e-at right. 

As Once in May. 1 Act. By Hartley 

Manners. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians. The Hon. Bob Gossett invents 
a system in winning Helen Wargrave 
by making ardent love to her, and 
then deserting her for a time. He un¬ 
expectedly meets her lunching at an 
hotel with his friend Sir Charles 
D’Orsay, who is estranged from his 
wife. Lady D’Orsay comes to ask for¬ 
giveness, but Helen’s presence causes 
suspicion. Bob sees the situation, 
causes a reconciliation between hus¬ 
band and wife, and wins Helen. 

Assault and Battery. l Act. By 
Ule Norwood. Modern Costume. 


Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 
Walking Ladies. Fred Downey is dis¬ 
tressed because he is poor, and the 
lady he loves is rich. This lady pays 
him a visit, with her sister. Dick 
Cheerall and Fred’s rich uncle also 
arrive. The uncle has the intention 
of trying the effect of a new battery on 
Fred. He first essays it on Dick, 
who retaliates, and makes him go 
through the same ordeal, by this means 
extracting from him a promise that he 
will give Fred his fortune at once, and 
consent to his marriage. 

Atchi. 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. Cos¬ 
tumes 1780. Time, 40 min. 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scene- 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. A little 
war occurs between Lady Mayduke 
and Lord Adonis Fickleton, the former 
not wishing the latter to marry her 
sister on account of his frivolity. 

Caught in his own Trap. 1 Act. 

By George Roberts. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 


FIVE CHARACTERS 


85 


Walking Lady. An uncle is caught in 
his own trap, who will not marry him¬ 
self, and will not allow his nephew to. 

Commission. 1 Act. By Weedon 
Grossmith. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Studio Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Cahmbermaid. In order 
to obtain the commission of a por¬ 
trait, which would otherwise have been 
lost, Marshall, an amateur artist, as¬ 
sumes the name of Thangen, with 
whom he is sharing the studio—Than¬ 
gen being in Rome. While painting the 
subject—a rich young widow—he falls 
desperately in love. She, however, 
finds out the deception, and a great 
deal of explanation is necessary before 
a reconciliation is effected. 

Cousin Tom. 1 Act. By George 
Roberts. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Cosway visits Mr. Loth- 
bury with a view of marrying his 
daughter. He finds out that she is in 
love with cousin Tom, a scapegrace 
who has been absent for five years. He 
thereupon assumes the name of Cousin 
Tom, and wins the young lady. Cousin 
Tom appears, and is discovered to be 
already married. 

Day After the Wedding:. 1 Act. 
By Mrs. Charles Kemble. Modern’ 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Drawing¬ 
room Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility 
Old Woman. Col. and Lady Freelove 
have just married. The latter’s brother 
informs the Colonel of his sister s un¬ 
controllable temper. This is cured by 
the Colonel pretending to be afflicted 
in a similar manner. 

Decided Case. 1 Act. By J. 
Brougham. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman. Lady An¬ 
gela Villiers lets her house during the 
Exhibition for the sake of charity, 
under the name of Mrs. Brown. The 
ITon. Dudley Vere takes the house 
under the name of Mr. Brown. Lady 
Villiers returns, and finally is engaged 
to De Vere. 

Dumb Belle. 1 Act. By Bayle Ber¬ 
nard. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian 
(Irish servant); 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. A young lady, receiv¬ 
ing a visit from her lover, pretends to 
be dumb, as she has read in a letter 
(addressed to her uncle) that he hears 
she talks so incessantly, and he wishes 
to marry a woman who can’t speak at 
all. He is rejoiced afterwards to find 
out she was shamming. 


For Papa’s Sake. 1 Act. By Mel 

B. Spurr. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
Harry Mathews, through a misunder¬ 
standing, has separated from his wife, 
who calls on him on his birthday stat¬ 
ing that her father is visiting them for 
a day, and in order that he may not 
know of their estrangement requests 
him to act as if nothing had happened. 
This causes them to be re-united. 

Guinea Stamp. l Act. By Cyril 
Hallward. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. _ 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Chambermaid. Sir Charles 
Trefusis wishes his daughter to marry 
his nephew, Jack Manners, and up¬ 
braids him because he has an attach¬ 
ment for Nellie Robinson. Sir Charles 
threatens that he will not leave Jack 
any of his property unless he marries 
in his own class. It so happens that 
Nellie is a daughter of Sir Charles, 
who had deserted her mother in former 
years. 

Happy Return (The). 1 Act. By 
Arthur Law. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Captain 
Hardy lives with his niece, Grace 
Fielding; he is expecting Louis, his 
son (Grace’s lover), home from abroad. 
He receives a forged cheque from his 
bankers, and Louis is suspected of the 
fraud. Louis arrives, and thinking 
that Grace’s brother has committed the 
forgery, prefers to bear the shame 
than give her pain. The real culprit 
is then discovered. 

Head of the Family. 1 Act. By 
F. W. Emden. Country Costume. 
Time, 38 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Edgar is in the country 
looking for a lost sister. He puts up 
at a farm-house, and falls in love with 
Prudence, through whom he is able 
to find his sister. 

Heads or Tail9. 1 Act. By J. Pal- 

grave Simpson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1£ hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Harold Dyecaster falls 
in love with his cousin Rosamond, 
whose father will not at first consent, 
but afterwards offers him his daugh¬ 
ter’s hand. Harold then writes his 
uncle two letters, one accepting and 
the other refusing, and is in suspense 
to know which has been delivered. He 
marries her in the end. 

Hester’s Mvstery. Is. 1 .Act. By 
A. W. Pinero. Modem Costumeu 
Time, 50 mim 1 Exterior Scene; J 


88 


»IT1 CHARACTER* 


Walking Gentleman; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. Mrs. Butterworth is 
expecting her daughter Hester home 
from school. Mr. Silverdale,_ a scoun¬ 
drel. the brother of the mistress at 
this school, arrives and informs her 
mother that Hester has left the school 
six weeks ago. He is in love with 
Hester, and uses this knowledge of her 
absence to create a mystery. Hester 
enters and scornfully rejects his ad¬ 
dresses; she introduces her husband, 
to whom she has been married secretly, 
and Silverdale narrowly escapes per¬ 
sonal chastisement. 

Jack in a Box. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Simpson. Costume, period George 
4th. Time, 48 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Newe Skeffington expects his 
son, who is to marry Mrs. D’Arcy, a 
widow. Jack Hamilton arrives, and is 
mistaken for the son, makes love to 
the widow and marries her. 

Lady by Birth (A). 1 Act. By W. 

Gordon Smythies. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A very pretty little 
piece. Herbert Crofton is in love with 
Lucy, an adopted child, who does not 
know her parentage. Herbert would 
forfeit a considerable sum under his 
grandfather’s will if he marry one who 
is not a lady by birth. The lovers are 
made happy by the discovery that 
Lucy is the daughter of a baronet. 
There are two other capital chai acters. 
in Peter Moser, who had brought up 
Lucy, and Hester the housekeeper; 
fcud these two, after an amusing scene, 
deeide to enter the matrimonial state. 

Little Sentinel. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Letty 
Hawthorne is courted by a captain of 
the Dragoons and an elderly lady- 
killer. Letty is engaged to May's 
brother, who has commissioned his 
sister to mount guard over Letty, and 
the manner in which May baffles the 
lovers is herein described. 

Our Relatives. 1 Act. By W. Ellis. 

Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Ladies. A married couple 
who r not live very happily together 
receive a visit from their respective 
brother and sister. The wife sees her 
husband embrace- his sister, and the 
husband sees his wife act in a similar 
manner to her brother, and they both 
imagine they have rivals. 


Perfection. 1 Act. By T. H. Bayly 

Modern Costume. Time, 60 min. 3 
Interior Scenes._ In private houses 
when this play is performed the cur¬ 
tain can be lowered between each 
scene, and the furniture altered. 
Charles Paragon declares that he will 
never marry until he meets a woman 
who is perfection, according to his 
ideas. His uncle introduces him to 
his ward, Kate O’Brien, who learns 
about Charles’ determination, and cap¬ 
tivates him while feigning to be desti¬ 
tute of the necessary qualities wh ; ch 
he designates perfection, and further 
represents herself as being the posses¬ 
sor of a cork leg. 

Queen of Arragron. 1 Act. By 

Howard Paul. Elizabethan Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Don Alvaro, a gentleman of Arragon, 
and a rival of the Regent, kisses the 
hand of the Queen, and is sentenced 
to death. The Regent, Don Mendo, 
does the same, and is placed in the 
same position. The Queen marries 
Don Alvaro and saves him. 

Retaliation. 1 Act. By R. Dircks. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Mr. and Mrs. John Cobbe are a newly- 
married couple. She makes out her 
brother to be an old lover, and flirts 
with him in order to make her hus¬ 
band jealous. The brother’s. Sancee 
arrives, and the husband retaliates by 
flirting with her. 

Sins of the Fathers. 1 Act. By W. 
Lestocq. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Old Woman. Lucy 
Markby is secretly engaged to George 
Jordan, the son of a man who for¬ 
merly eloped with Lucy’s mo + her. The 
father’s consent would be difficult to 
obtain, so George Jordan, passing 
himself off as a pianoforte tuner, inter¬ 
views Mr. Markby, and is enabled to 
convince him that his wife’s sin was 
caused by his own neglect. The re¬ 
quired consent is then obtained, and 
Lucy is made happy. 

Sunshine. 1 Act. By F. W. Brough¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Frank 
Ashley returns from Germany, having 
been cured of blindness. On account 
of her health, the doctor requests him 
not to break the news to his wife for 
a few days. The wife’s brother, who 
has been forbidden the house under a 
suspicion of dishonesty, secretly visi+s 
his sister, and Frank takes him to be 
a c'mdestine lover. The brother’s 
character is cleared, and “ Sunshine ” 
again prevails. 


FITE CHARACTERS. 


87 


Taken from tne French. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time. 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 0>d 
Mar.; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Sir Felix Fritterly in¬ 
duces Arthur Vallance to pretend to 
elope with his wife, Lady Fritterly, in 
order to get the consent of Arthur’s 
uncle to his marriage with Myrtle 
Vane. Lady Fritterly overhears the 
plot, and turns the tables on her hus¬ 
band. The required consent is after¬ 
wards obtained. 

To Oblige Benson. 1 Act. By Tom 

Taylor. Modern Costume. Time, 53 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian: 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Lady Comedians. Mrs. 
Benson has a love letter written to 
her, which falls into the hands of Mrs. 
Southdown. The latter then gets her 
husband to pretend to be jealous, to 
show Mrs. Benson what an angry hus¬ 
band is like. Southdown is made to 
believe by Benson that the letter was 
sent to the former’s wife, and this 
makes him jealous in earnest, and 
much explanation follows. 

Unlimited Confidence. 1 Act. By 
A. C. Troughton. Costume, 1788. 
Time, 55 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Florence Beckwith passes 
herself off as a widow with a child in 
order to shield her aunt, who has no 
proof of her marriage. Florence’s 
lover cannot understand this, as he 
imagines her to be a single woman, 
but the unexpected return of the 
aunt’s husband puts everything right. 

Who Speaks First? 1 Act. By 
Charles Dance. Modern Costume. 
Time, 48 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Comedian: 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Hus! ' d and wife 
quarrel, and both de are they will 
not speak first to etch other. The 
wife’s brother arrives alter an absence 
of 13 years, and learning the dispute 
introduces himself to the husband as 
a friend of the wife’s, and to the wife 
as a friend of the husband, and causes 
a settlement. 


Why Women Weep. 1 Act. By W. 

W. Broughton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Ladies. Arthur 
Chandos has married Dora, a widow, 
on whom she induced him to settle his 
fortune. He has been gambling, but 
she will not give him more than his 
usual allowance. Some friends arrive, 
Frank Dudley and his wife Madge; 
the latter wishes her husband to buy a 
pair of diamond earrings, but he de¬ 
clines. Dora then gives Madge a les¬ 
son in ruling husbands. This leads to 
a splendid scene, and a better under¬ 
standing between husbands and wives. 

Winning- Hazard. 1 Act. By J. P. 

Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Dudley Croker and Jack 
Crawley are on a visit to their uncle, 
who wishes to see which he would pre¬ 
fer leaving his money to. One has a 
fault of always being too soon, and 
the other too late. Ultimately the 
uncle promises to divide the money 
between them. 

Woman’s Rights. 1 Act. By T. A. 

Palmer. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Irishman; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady. Miss Constantia 
Semper, a mature maiden, dis¬ 
appointed in her early love, devotes her 
life to the grand and glorious scheme 
of exterminating man. An Irish 
major, who was her former lover, re¬ 
turns, and once more wins her affec¬ 
tions. 

Written in Sand. 1 Act. By F. W 
Broughton. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Kate 
Shirley is engaged to Fairfax Rendali 
in obedience to her father’s wishes. 
She falls in love with a young artist, 
Frank Seaton, but is obliged to reject 
him. A Sister of Mercy arrives, and 
recognises in Fairfax her husband who 
had deserted her. She denounces him, 
and is enabled to complete the happi¬ 
ness of Kate and Frank. 


DRAMAS. 


Cousin Peter. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
T. E. Wilks. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 -Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian: 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian: 1 
Chambermaid. A young marred lady 
pays out an aristocratic admirer, and 
also a thief who breaks into her house. 

Desperate Game. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Room Scene; 1 Lieht 
Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 

Comedian; 1 Old Woman. Capt. Rat- 


cliffe is in love with Mrs. Somerton (a 
widow). Percy Postlethwaite is also in 
love with her, and is about to propose. 
Ratcliffe is so determined to win her, 
that he breaks into her house and 
steals a pocket-book containing £15.000. 
Postlethwaite, finding her money gone, 
withdraws, and Ratcliffe wins her. 

For her Child’s Sake. 1 Act. By 
Sir C. L. Young. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman: l Lady Comedian; ] 


38 


FIVE CHARACTER* 


Walking Lady. Geraldine Ormond 
has fallen in love with Aubrey Vers- 
choyle during her mothers absence. 
The mother returns and indignantly 
refuses Aubrey’s proposals, her hus¬ 
band having many years previously 
run away with his mother. The hus¬ 
band comes back, a very pathetic scene 
follows, and all ends in forgivenesa 

Fragment (A). 1 Act. By C. Han¬ 
nan. Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 
1 Old Lady. Anthony Fragment falls 
in love with General Hawley's niece, 
Ida. He informs her that he is a 
foundling, and is going away. He 
then unexpectedly discovers that the 
General’s wife is his own mother, 
whose marriage with her first hus¬ 
band was thought to be illegal, but 
afterwards proved otherwise. 

Home Rule. 1 Act. By J. G. Taylor. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Tom and Nancy Bowles have 
brought up their orphan niece, Mary 
Lanyard, who is expecting her sailor 
brother, Ben, home. John Veal is 
their lodger, and is in love with Mary. 
Great amusement is caused by various 
complications that ensue. Tom first 
imagines John is courting his wife, 
and then mistakes Ben for an old 
lover of hers. Everything, however, is 
satisfactorily explained in the end. 

Human Sport. 1 Act. By Austin 
Fryers. Modern Costume. Time. 25 
mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Lady Comedian. In 
the works of Herbert Groves a drun¬ 
ken genius, familiarly known as “ Old 
Nip ” is employed. He has occasion, 
while sober, to visit his master’s house, 
and recognises his daughter in Her¬ 
bert’s wife. Bather than expose her 
to the shame of her identity, he feigns 
drunkenness, and gets kicked out of 
the house, with a wish that he will 
never return singing in his ears. 


In Nelson’s Days. 1 Act. By H. M. 

Pauli. Costume, 1805. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. Squire Marston is in 
love with Nellie Carew, but she seems 
to think more of an old playmate, the 
Marquis de Varennes. The latter ap¬ 
pears, and is one of Napoleon’s spies, 
and endeavours to get information 
from an old servant. Squire Marston 
causes his arrest, but he escapes and 
commits suicide. 

Journey’s End. 1 Act. By H. W. C. 

Newte. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Edwin Clements and 
Eleanor Blair are awaiting the parson 
to marry them in her father’s bunga¬ 
low in Chili. Her sister is also ex¬ 
pected. While the engaged couple are 
waiting, Edwin informs his betrothed 
of a flirtation that had taken place 
between him and a lady in England, 
and that he had been obliged to keep 
up a correspondence with her. The 
lady turns out to be Eleanor’s sister, 
who is in love with Edwin, but gives 
him up to make her sister happy. 

Little Madcap. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
C. S. Cheltnam. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. Scene, a Wheelwright’s 
Shop; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. A brother returns 
from abroad to meet his sister, and a 
“ young madcap ” makes out she is 
the lady in question. 

My Little Girl. 1 Act. By D. G. 
Boucicault. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. 
A very pretty little piece. Geoffrey 
Linford is guardian to Gladys, and 
has fallen deeply in love with her. 
She. however, becomes engaged to his 
nephew, Algernon Barford. Geoffrey 
at first refuses to give his consent, but 
through the intervention of Aunt Janet 
this is afterwards obtained. 


FOUR MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 
FARCES. 


April Fool. 1 Act. By W. Brough 
and A. Halliday. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady 
and Supers. The plot of this piece 
turns on the endeavours of each char¬ 
acter to make the other an April fool. 

Blighted Being-. l Act. By Tom 
Taylor. Modern Costume. Time, 44 
min. I Interior Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians’ 1 Irishman; 1 Light Come¬ 


dian; 1 Chambermaid. Job Wort Is a 
blighted being. He hais adopted 
various means to end his existence. 
He is visited by a naval friend. Ned 
Spanker, who is instrumental in re¬ 
storing him to a proper frame of mind, 
and he becomes engaged to Ned’s 
sister. 


Burglary 1 Act. By C. J. Mead 
Allen. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
nun. 1 Interior Scene: 3 Low Come- 
1 Walking Gentleman; » 


FIVE CHARACTERS. 


39 


Chambermaid. Eliza Perkins, a ser¬ 
vant, has three lovers, two are bur¬ 
glars and one a policeman. They all 
get into the house, and the burg ! ars 
proceed to rob the place. The master 
then appears, and he proves to be a 
gentleman crib-cracker, working as a 
detective by day and a burglar at 
night. 

Caught by the Cuff. 1 Act. By F. 
Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Chambermaid. A burglar 
is supposed to be about disguised as a 
policeman, and a commercial traveller 
gets into trouble through dressing in 
policeman’s clothes and being mistaken 
for the burglar. 

Hay After the Fair. 1 Act By C. 

A. Somerset. Old Fashioned Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Chambermaid. Jerry has 
been'deputed by his master to repair 
to Whirligig Hall, to make an offer for 
its purchase. He, however, stops at 
some races on the way, and on his 
arrival finds that Mr. Fidget, a stock¬ 
broker, has purchased the property 
and already resides there. Jerry, with 
the assistance of Polly, the servant, 
to whom he is engaged, both dress up 
and impersonate various characters,. 
and worry Mr. Fidget to such an ex¬ 
tent that he is glad to sell the pro¬ 
perty. 

Fearful Tragedy in the Seven 
Dials. 1 Act. By Charles Selby. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Room Scene; 3 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Mr, Slumpington has been lead¬ 
ing a gay life during his wife’s ab¬ 
sence. Mrs. Slumpington comes back, 
and her husband awaking, has no re¬ 
collection how he managed to get home. 
He finds another individual in his 
room, who also is not aware how he 
got there. Mrs. Slumpington hap¬ 
pens to read from a paper about a 
fearful tragedy in Seven Dials, and 
from the description they imagine they 
committed the murder. The news¬ 
paper is discovered to be several years 
old. 

Five Pounds Reward. 1 Act. By 
J. Oxenford. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 

Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian. Mr. Bostlethwaite 
enters the house of a former love of 
his, whose husband unexpectedly re¬ 
turns, and he is quietly shown out. 
He loses his watch, and is afraid he 
will be discovered through his name 
being on it, and he has to adopt 
various ruses to get out of his diffi¬ 
culty. 


In Possession. 1 Act. By M 

Beecher. Modern Costume. Time, SO 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Chambermaid. A gentleman 
has his furniture seized for rent, and 
not wishing to let everyone know the 
fact he induces the broker’s man to 
dress up as his uncle. Some people 
arrive, and by their language the 
broker’s man imagines they are trying 
all sorts of devices to get rid of him. 

I’ve Eaten My Friend. 1 Act. By 
John Bridgeman. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Jellytop calls on his intended, 
Angelica, whose father keeps a pie 
shop. While eating a pie he finds a 
button from his friend, Stubbs’ coat. 
As he is locked in, and hears mys¬ 
terious sounds, he is afraid he has 
eaten his friend, but Stubbs arrives 
on the scene and puts matters 
straight. > 

Mrs. Green’s Snug; Little Busi¬ 
ness. 1 Act. By C. S. Cheltnam. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Light Comedian; 3 Low Comedians; 

1 Chambermaid. Mrs. Green, a young 
widow, having a snug little green¬ 
grocer’s business, is courted by her 
lodger, a policeman, the beadle, and 
her shop boy. She finally sets her 
affections on the policeman. 

My Young- Wife and My Old Um¬ 
brella. 1 Act. By Benjamin Web¬ 
star. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
mfn. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 

1 Walking Lady. Showing how a man 
loses both his wife and his old um¬ 
brella, and how he eventually recovers 
them. 

Painless Dentistry. 1 Act. By M. 

Beecher. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Philip Puller 
is a dentist, and gains the affections of 
Miss Euphemia Vanderpump. This 
lady has two other suitors. The three 
lovers each claim the lady’s hand from 
the father, who allows her to select for 
herself, her choice being for the 
dentist. 

Paul Pry Married and Settled. 1 

Act. By C. Matthews. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. A wife leaves her husband 
in a fit of jealousy because he has re~ 
ceived a letter from a lady signed 
Phoebe. She is reconciled to him 
afterwards when she discovers Phoebe 
to be his aunt, and Paul Pry’s wife. 

Ticket of Leave. 1 Act. By Watts 
Phillips. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Com*’ 


40 


FIVE CHARACTERS, 


dians; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian. A gentleman is exceedingly 
nervous about robbers, and he happens 
to engage a ticket-of-leave man as his 
servant. 

Two Heads are Better than One. 

] Act. By Lenox Horne. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. A young lady introduces her 
lover into her uncle’s house. The 
uncle being short-sighted, and not 


wishing her lover to be seen, she 
places his head through a hole in the 
table, and makes it represent a 
“ dolly.” 

Was I to Blame? 1 Act. By J. H. 

Rodwell. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Mr. Melville allows Lord Evered to 
indulge in the society of his wife, while 
he pays his addresses to another lady. 


COMEDIES. 


Cup of Tea. 1 Act. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 2 

Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. Sir Charles 
and Lady Seymour returning from a 
ball, have a little jealous quarrel. Lady 
Seymour plays a trick on Sir Charles, 
who retaliates on finding it out. There 
is a very comical character in Scrog¬ 
gins, who, fleeing from his creditors, 
gets into their house, and is made a 
tool in the hands of both. 

His Own Enemy. 1 Act. By A. 
Meadow. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. Frederick 
Whymper becomes tired of his mar¬ 
ried life, and has a scene with his 
wife. Captain Douglas appears, a 
fugitive from justice, having thought 
he had killed his major in a duel. 
Frederick hopes he will amuse his wife 
and leave him freer. He then gets 
jealous of Douglas, who, however, is 
no other than his wife’s brother, and 
discloses himself upon learning that 
the major is recovering. 

Home for a Holiday. 1 Act. By 
W. Gordon. Costumes, 1755. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 


dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. A 
daughter returns from school to her 
rake of a father, and by her innocence 
reforms him. 

Keeper of the Seals. 1 Act. By L. 

S. Giprdon. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old 
Men; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. A young lady is hidden in 
a cupboard by her lover while a judge 
calls, whose visit is to seal all doors, 
cupboards, etc., in the house. He makes 
the lover the keeper of the Seals, and 
amusement is caused by him not being 
allowed to release the young lady under 
a penalty of three years’ imprison¬ 
ment. 

Wilful Ward. 1 Act. By J. P. Wooler. 

Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Sir Peregrine Placid wishes his ward, 
Rose Lester, to marry a fop. Rose’s 
father had expressed a wish she should 
marry Sir Peregrine’s nephew, which 
wish is fulfilled, as Rose has fallen in 
love with her guardian’s secretary, 
who is the nephew in question acting 
under an assumed name. 


DRAMAS. 


Bad Penny 'A). 1 Act. By W. Lestocq. 
Modern Costume. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady. Charles Hyde has brought up 
his brother Richard’s child. May. who 
is engaged to Harry Goodwin. Richard 
is a “bad penny,” and endeavours first 
to levy blackmail on Charles, as the 
price of his silence respecting his rela¬ 
tionship, and then on the lover, Harry 
Goodwin, who, however, recognises in 
him one who had commuted forgery in 
his father’s emrlov. Richard is then 
only too lia^ny to depart. 

Jit of Old Chelsea 1 Act. By Mrs. 
Oscar Beringer. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Studio Scene; 1 
Comedian; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 


Lady Comedian. Jack Hellier, in by¬ 
gone days a rake, is about to be mar¬ 
ried. His sculptor’s studio is likewise 
his living-room. It is a cold, foggy 
night, and discovering Saucers a 
flower girl, numbed with cold on his 
doorstep, he brings her in and feeds 
her. Upstairs, some fellow-artists are 
having an “evening”; they settle to 
come down and fetch Hellier. Hear¬ 
ing them outside, Jack puts the girl 
in his bunk; but they eventually find 
her, and a scuffle ensues before they 
leave. Jack lies on his sofa to go to 
sleep; but before he goes off, tells 
Saucers of his marriage. Hearing this, 
while he sleeps she creeps from the 
room after leaving a flower in nis hand 
and kissing hini. 


*IV* CHARACTERS. 


41 


Colour-Sergeant. 1 Act. By Bran- 

don Thomas. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Low Comedians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 
Lady Comedian. The proprietor of 
a barber’s shop, an ex-colour- 
sergeant, Henry Havelock Honour, 
h*s adopted a daughter, Nell. He 
has a son, just returning from 
military service in Africa, secretly 
married to Nelk The very name of 
his son is hateful to the old man 
on account of the marriage and 
his having given way to drink and 
evil associates. The latter have 
broken into the shop and robbed the 
sergeant of his hard-earned savings. 
No argument will convince him of 
his son’s innocence. Only when the 
boy throws off his coat and reveals 
his badge of sergeant comes the re¬ 
conciliation. 

His Life for Hers. 1 Act. By C. W. 
Hogg. Costume, period of French Re¬ 
volution. Time. 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Henri, Due de Chatillon, is 
about to leave Paris. He is hiding in 
a garret from the cut-throats of the 
Revolution. A shot is heard, and a 
former fiancee is brought in with her 
wounded husband. He generously in¬ 
sists on the two using the means of 
escape he had provided for himself, 
and stays to fight the mob. 

In the Eyes of the World. 1 Act. 

By A. C. Fraser Wood. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady. 
Lady Mabel Wendover is on the point 
of marrying Lord Pontefract, whom 
she does not love. She leaves a dance 
the night before the wedding to pay 
a visit to Richard Carlton, who loves 
her, but dared not propose as he 
would not be accepted by her parents. 
Lord Pontefract follows her to Carl¬ 
ton’s ohambers. She avows her love 
for Carlton, but the latter persuades 
her to marry Pontefract to avoid a 
scandal. 

Major and Miner. 2 Acts. By W. 

Ellis. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Sam 
Horton has obtained possession of a 
mine through dishonest means. Philip 
Browning, son of the former owner, 
appears as a poor artist, and falls in 
love with Horton’s daughter. Marion. 
Horton rejects him, wishing his 
daughter to marry Major White, an 
unworthy suitor. Philip, obtaining 
possession of the mine, leaves Horton 
in poverty. He then proves himself a 
true friend, and becomes engaged to 
Marion. 


One Touch of Nature. 1 Act. By 
B. Wester. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Mr. Beaumont Fletcher is a dramatifl 
author who is d'ssatisfied with a young 
actress who has to play the part of a 
daughter restored to her father. She 
comes to his house for further re¬ 
hearsal, and there meets an old 
copyist, Mr. Holder, who is employed 
by the author. In the absence of the 
actor who is to play the father, 
Holder, who knows the part through 
copying it, renuests to be allowed to 
rehearse it. This he does so naturally 
that the actress responds. By slightly 
altering the text, Holder makes it 
plain to the latter that she is his long- 
lost daughter. 

Richard Wye. 1 Act. By Charles 
Hannan. Costumes, Period 1830. 
Time. 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Walkinv Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. Richard 
Wye returns from abroad to marry 
Jessie Rutherford, his junior by many 
years. In his absence, Sydney Wye, 
his nephew, has fallen in love with 
Jessie, who returns his affection. 
Finally Richard generously gives her 
up to the younver man on the ground 
that his was only a father’s love. 

Spitalfields Weaver. (Comic). 1 

Act. By T. H. Bayly. Modern Cos¬ 

tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian. Brown having been 
a Spitalfields weaver, is left a fortune 
by his late master, whose niece he mar¬ 
ries. He endeavours to educate him¬ 
self to his exalted position, and dur¬ 
ing a dinner party he receives a visit 
from his late fellow-workman, Sim¬ 
mons. The behaviour of this workman 
forms the exhilarating part of the play. 
Very good part for low comedian, and 
one of Mr. Toole’s favourite charac¬ 
ters. 

Work-Box. 1 Act. By Tom Craven. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 

1 Walking Lady. An enmity of 
twenty-five years’ standing exists 
between Hugh Medlicott and John 
Dwyer. To the former conies an op¬ 
portunity of revenge, as he has ob¬ 
tained a mortgage on Dwyer’s farm 
A cripple, Cecil Caryl, is deeply in 
love with Dwyer’s daughter Nell. He 
receives £200 for a story he has writ¬ 
ten and places the notes in a secret 
drawer of Nell’s work-box in orde? 
that she may pay off the mortgage. 
The deception is discovered, and N«ll 
consents to marry Cecil 


6IX CHARACTERS, 


SIX CHARACTERS. 


ONE MALE AND FIVE FEMALES. 
COMEDY. 


Ideals. 1 Act. By Margery Stanley 
Clark. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Old Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Althea belongs to a ridiculous class— 
girls with notions. In subjection to 
her principles, she schools herself to 
believe the ideal existence of woman 


is an independent one. She not only 
makes herself miserable, but inflicts 
her views on her fellows, and founds 
the “Latchkey League.” Fortunately, 
there is a cousin very much in love 
with Althea. He succeeds in pulling 
her from an awkward position, and 
the scare brings her to a decision life 
must be lived rationally. 


DRAMA. 


•Op - o’ - Me - Thumb. 1 Act. By 
Frederick Fenn and Richard Pryce. 
Modern Costume. Male Costume, 
coster. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene. 1 Low Comedian; 2 Old 
Women; 2 Light Lad^ Comedians; 
1 Lady Com°dian. While ironing 
shirts at Madame Didier’s laundry 
Amanda Afflick weaves romances 
round herself and a Mr. Horace 


Greensmith, owner of a shirt left at 
the laundry. He is an affluent noble¬ 
man who will one day return and 
demand her hsnd in marriage. The 
romance is shattered when the gentle¬ 
man, no lordly wooer, but a coster in 
corduroys, arrives and can hardlv con¬ 
ceal his contempt for his diminutive 
adorer. There is an exceptionally 
strong woman’s part in Amanda. 


TWO MALES AND FOUR FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Chopstick and Spikins. 1 Act. By 
P. Meritt. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Mr. Spikins is in agony for 
fear his wife and mother-in-law should 
discover he is receiving certain little 
notes from a young lady he met and 
took to Woolwich Gardens. He is 
visited by his friend, Mr. Chopstick, 
who only adds to his troubles. To 
make matters worse, the young lady 
calls herself, but recognises Mr. Chop¬ 
stick as her husband, from whom she 
had been separated. They then make 
UP their differences. 


Popping: the Question. 1 Act. By 

J. B. Buckstone. Costume, period 
1789. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 

1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 

2 Old Women; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Primrose, an 
elderly man, proposes to Ellen Murray, 
and she imagines that he is giving his 
consent to her marriage with her 
lover, Henry Thornton. Primrose 
thinks he is accepted, and breaks the 
news to two old spinsters, who each 
think he is proposing to them. The 
spinsters meet and create a scene, 
Ellen and her lover get married, and 
Primrose declares it is easier to get 
a wife than to get rid of one. 

Superior Miss Pellender. See MS. 
plays. 


COMEDIES. 


Maggie’s Situation. 1 Act, By J. 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Utility. Mrs. Midwinter resides with 
her daughter, Anastasia, and her step¬ 
daughter, Maggie. She is about to 


send the latter out as governess, while 
she endeavours to make a match be¬ 
tween her rich nephew and Anastasia. 
The nephew pretends he has lost his 
money, upon hearing which Mrs. Mid¬ 
winter forbids him the house, and he 
is finally engaged to Maggie. 


DRAMAS. 


Broken Hearts. (Fairy.) 3 Acts. 
W. S. Gilbert. Classical Costume, 14th 
Century. Time, If hours. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Ladies. The scene 
takes place on an island whereon dwell 
four maidens, three of whom are suf¬ 
fering from broken hearts, the Lady 


Vavir, a sister of one of these three, 
having never loved. A deformed dwarf 
is the only male allowed on the island, 
but Prince Florian appears under a 
talisman, and the Lady Vavir falls in 
love with him, but dies of a broken 
heart on hearing that he is betrothed 
to her sister. 


•IX CHARACTER*. 


43 


THREE MALES AND THREE FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Aunt Charlotte’9 Maid. 1 Act By 

J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Corned.an; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. The plot is 
very similar to the successful play of 
“ Betsy.” It describes the influence 
Aunt Charlotte’s maid has over the 
nephew, in consequence of him giving 
her his portrait. 

Board and Residence. 1 Act. By 
C. Edwards. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; ] Low Comedian: 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Some very 
funny complications ensue between 
two lovers, who are both in love with 
a Miss Mildew, there being two other 
Miss Mildews, one an elderly aunt and 
the other the niece. 

Bobby A 1. 1 Act. By G. S. Hodgson. 

Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 

Interior Kitchen Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 
1 Chambermaid. A young lady and a 
servant girl are both secretly engaged. 
They privately manage a meeting in 
the kitchen with their suitors, who en¬ 
counter each other, and much con¬ 
fusion follows. 

Box and Cox Married and 

Settled. 1 Act. By J. S. Coyne. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
Sitting-room Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility; 2 Chambermaids; 
1 Old Woman. The two friends. Box 
and Cox, meet by accident in their 
old room at Mrs. Bouncer’s. The for¬ 
mer has married Sophy Dawes and the 
latter Fanny Hawes. They introduce 
the two ladies, who turn out to be old 
friends. It also appears that Mr. Box 
had met Mrs. Cox previous to her 
marriage, and that she had confided to 
his care a pet dog. While talking of 
the dog Mr. Cox and Mrs. Box are 
listening behind doors, both thinking 
that a child is being referred to, and 
this causes a burlesque quarrel. 

Browne with an E. 1 or 2 Acts. By 
Leopold Montague. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Mrs. Nervesby is expecting 
her son-in-law, Robert Browne with an 
F, whom she has never seen. Another 


Robert Brown arrives, and is mistaken 
for the former. There is a very good 
German Character Part in this piece. 

Deserter in a Fix. 1 Act. By Ber¬ 
nard Soane-Roby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Woman: 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Joshua Smith, 
a deserter, seeks refuge in the house of 
Mrs. Stiggins, wherein his sweetheart, 
Jemima, is servant. In order to pre¬ 
vent being arrested, he changes clothes 
with the gentleman Mrs. Stiggins 
wishes her daughter to marry. 

Doing' My Uncle. 1 Act. By R. Lacy. 

Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 2 
Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 2 Chambermaids. A 
nephew has displeased his uncle 
through marrying, and is in difficulties. 
He discovers his uncle is advertising 
for a housekeeper, and, with the 
assistance of two acquaintances, they 
dress up and apply for the situation. 
The nephew’s wife is selected, and 
effects a reconciliation. 

Eight Hours at the Seaside. 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; I Old 
Woman: 1 Chambermaid. Julia Lorri- 
mer and Captain Deadlock have been 
affianced by their respective guardians 
in their youth. Captain Deadlock is 
expected from sea; Mr. Titus Titlark, 
a traveller in haberdashery, arriving, 
he is mistaken for the Captain, and is 
entertained in grand style. Mrs. Tit¬ 
lark and the Captain arriving, amus¬ 
ing complications take place. 

Fast Coach. 1 Act. By C. J. Claridge 
and R. Soutar. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior; 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. A 
young gentleman gets an itinerant 
vendor of bird-whistles to represent his 
coach, and go and abuse him before 
the young lady his guardian has 
selected for his wife. On seeing the 
lady he finds that he had previously 
fallen in love with her, and his uncle’* 
wish is fulfilled. 


44 


SIX CHARACTMt S 


Keep Your Temper, 1 Act. By J. 
P. Wooller. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

1 Light Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Jack 
Archer interferes with everybody’s 
business and manages to turn every¬ 
thing topsy-turvy in the house of Mr. 
Mark Antony Brown, continually tell¬ 
ing them all to keep their temper. 

Kiss and be Friends. 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility. Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
are continually quarrelling. Major 
Gadabout asks Mr. Brown to take a 
watch to a certain lady to induce her 
not to disturb his love affairs with Mrs. 
Yellowboy. Mr. Brown endeavours to 
execute the commission, but gets found 
out. He is severely lectured by his 
wife and Mrs. Yellowboy, but it being 
proved that all blame should be at¬ 
tached to the Major, their indignation 
is transferred to the latter. They after¬ 
wards resolve to “ Kiss and be 
Friends." 

Lights Out. 1 Act. By Max Pember¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman. This excellent 
little play is highly suitable to ama¬ 
teurs. Into a terrible quagmire has 
Algernon Cuffe fallen! He is desper¬ 
ately, uncontrollably in love with 
Hilda, one of the house-party at Beech 
Mount. But Cuffe is of a nervous dis¬ 
position ; he cannot force himself to 
any decisive end until one night in the 
ball-room th? light goes suddenly out. 
The moment previous she was stand¬ 
ing in an opposite corner. He walks 
over to her, proposes, a voice answers 
“ Yes," and he kisses—a face. A lamp 
is brought into the room,_ and Cuffe 
finds, to his horror, Hilda is no longer 
there. He imagines every woman in 
the house regarding him as her 
affianced husband, and he. endures an 
unenviable time until it is discovered 
that Hilda really was the lady in the 
dark. 

Lodgings for Single Gentlemen. 

1 Act. By J. Poole. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 5 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians. Colonel Stanmore and his sister, 
Mrs. Greville. a widow, both vow they 
will remain single. The Colonel, how¬ 
ever, is secretly married, and Mrs. Gre¬ 
ville is in love with Captain Postle- 
thwaite, at whose lodgings they all 
meet. An inquisitive landlady and 
Postlethwaite’s manservant, trying to 
shield hr master, cause much confu¬ 
sion before the brother and sister 
make it known to each other they can¬ 
not keep their vows. 


Meddle and Muddle. 1 Act. By 

Bellingham and Best. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Walking Ladies; and a 
Chambermaid. Philip Stornaway is in 
love with Dora Meddle. Her father 
does not appear to approve, so Dora 
tells him that Philip is really in love 
with Millicent, Major Muddle’s 
daughter. Old Meddle is delighted, 
and proposes to Miss Muddle to see 
her father on her behalf. She thinks 
he is proposing to her, and accepts 
him. In the meantime Dora and Philip 
go off and get married, and in order 
to avoid an action for breach of pro¬ 
mise, Mr. Meddle has to marry Miss 
Muddle himself. 

Mr. Scroggins. 1 Act. By W. Hand- 

cock. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man ; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Utility. A Mr. Scroggins, 
being disgusted with his name on re¬ 
tiring from business, changes it to Mr. 
Chesterfield Stanhope, and the farce 
shows the difficulties he has to encoun¬ 
ter. 

Mrs. White. 1 Act. By R. J. Ray¬ 
mond. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Frank Brown 
is in love with Widow White, but 
Frank’s uncle, Major Pepper, is 
against his marrying. Frank thinks 
that if his uncle sees the widow he 
will give in, so pretends to him that 
they are already married. A Mr. and 
Mrs. White have called at an adjoining 
cottage to see their offspring, and the 
Major mistakes the latter Mrs. White 
for the Widow White. When he does 
meet the widow he is soon won over, 
and sanctions the match. 

My Dress Boots. 1 Act. By T. J. 

Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman: 1 
Walking Lady: 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Marmaduke Mivins, staying at a 
country inn, suspects Tamberlik 
Brown of paying too much attention 
to his wife and daughter. Bob, the 
waiter, borrows Brown’s dress boots to 
take out the maidservant, and in re¬ 
turning them is seized in the dark by 
Mivins. Bob escapes, but leaves one 
of the dress boots behind, which causes 
Brown mudi cruel treatment at the 
hands of Mivins. 

Not at all Jealous, l Aet. By T. 

W. Robertson. Modern Costumei 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Eccentric Comedian- I 


BIX CHARACTERS. 


45 


Walking Gentleman; 4 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Sigis- 
mund Scorpion is extremely jealous, 
and Mrs. Scorpion, in order to assist 
Emma Torrens and prevent a proposed 
un on with Frederick Follamour, pre¬ 
tends she is a widow, and allows the 
latter to make love to her. Scorpion 
discovers this, and it requires much 
explanation to pacify him. 

Nothing; to Nurse. 1 Act. By C. 
M. Walcott. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gent eman ; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Mr. Maxim Muddle, in order 
to obtain money from his uncle, falsely 
states he is married and has an heir. 
The uncle arrives, and Muddle has to 
borrow a baby to keep up the decep¬ 
tion. He is found out. but is after¬ 
wards forgiven. 

Obstinate Family. 1 Act. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. Drawing¬ 
room Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. The 
obstinate family consists of a husband, 
wife, the husband's father and mother- 
in-law, and the manservant and maid¬ 
servant. They all quarrel because the 
female portion of the household will 
not say ; “ Thank goodness, the table is 
spread. 

An Odd Lot. 1 Act. By W. Gordon. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Old Woman. A 
brother and sister respectively fall in 
love with an actress and a conjuror. 
The two latter meet, and are discoveied 
to be husband and wife. Each had 
thought the other dead. 

Peculiar Proposals. 1 Act. By 
Tames M. Lowry. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Seme; 2 
Waiking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Angelina and her cousin Juda 
are visited by their respective ad¬ 
mirers, Sir Frederick Funkey and 
Ralph Rattleton, the former a very 
nervous individual, and the latter just 
the reverse. They both, by mistake, 
propose to the wrong lady, and get ac¬ 
cepted. 

Private View. 1 Act. By Ernest 
Ferrers. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility: 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
Rufus Scowler will not at first consent 
to hi 3 son marrying Nancy Nightin¬ 
gale, as her father was a rival of his. 
He afterwards does so upon seeing a 
picture she has painted, and recognis¬ 
ing her genius. 


Sarah’s Young; Man. 1 Act. By W 

E. Suter. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Sarah has a 
visit from her young man during the 
absence of her master and mistress 
and their daughter, who, however, miss 
the train, and suddenly return, and 
each nvstakes Sarah’s young man for 
somebody else. The situations are 
most comical, the parts for low come¬ 
dian and chambermaid being excep¬ 
tionally good. 

Silent System. 1 Act. By T. J. 

Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Same plot as “ Not at all 
Jealous,” described above, having been 
adapted from the same original. 

That Affair at Finchley, l Act. By 

J. S. Coyne. Costumes, period George 
II. Time. 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Lady Comedian; 2 Chambermaids. A 
niece dresses up as a highwayman, 
and in this disguise compels her aunt 
and guardian to give their sanction to 
the union with her lover. 

That Blessed Baby. 1 Act. By J. 

G. Moore. Time, 55 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman: 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Frank Finnicke, a bachelor, has a 
horror of babies, and in returning from 
a holiday gets one thrown on his 
hands. He gets rid of it. His man¬ 
servant and maidservant are secretly 
married, and their baby is discovered 
in the house. They make out their 
baby has been addressed to Frank 
Finnicke, which causes him much 
trouble until the truth is discovered. 

Trying; it On. 1 Act. By Wm. Brough. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Inter-or Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Old Man ; 1 Comedian ; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mrs. Jobstock has pawned her 
diamonds unknown to her husband, 
and has an imitation set made. Mr. 
Walsingham-Potts calls, tries this set 
on, and they get down his back. Mr. 
Jobstock then wants them to raise 
money on. Potts manages to regain 
them, and is then accused for sulsti- 
tuting the false stones for real. Mrs. 
Jobstock then confesses. 

Two Bonnycastles. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton. Modern Costumes. Tims, 
•5 min. 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Bonnycastle has had his watch stolen, 
seizes the wrong man. whose watch he 
takes from him. thinking it is his ow» 


49 


SIX CHARACTERS 


He runs away, and assumes the name 
of Jorum, and under this name an 
uncle wants his niece, Helen, to marry 
him. Bonnycastle is already married, 
and Helen is in love with John James 
Johnson, who happens to be the party 
Bonnycastle took the watch from. Mrs. 
Bonnycastle appears, and explanations 
are arrived at, and Helen is allowed to 
marry Johnson. 

Two Puddifoots. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costumes. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Light Comedian : 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Pud i- 
foot senior passes himself off as Puddi- 
foot junior in order to ingratiate him¬ 
self with the fair sex. The son re¬ 
taliates by assuming the dress and de¬ 
meanour of his father. 

Vandyke Brown. 1 Act. By A. C. 
Troughton. Modern Costume. Time, 
60 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman ; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 

Chambermaid. Mr. Vandyke Brown 
unexpectedly returns from abroad, 
goes to his old apartments, which are 
now occupied by the quiet Mr. Augus¬ 
tus Robbins. Mr. Brown takes Mr. 
Robbins to be a monster who has sup¬ 


planted him in the affections of hii 
wife during his absence, and great con¬ 
fusion is caused until explanations ara 

given. 

Widow’s Victim. 1 Act. By C. 

Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 60 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Pelham Podge, a very eccentric indi¬ 
vidual, greatly annoys Mrs. Rattlebox, 
a charming widow, with his attentions. 
She, therefore, engages her maid's 
young man, Jeremiah Clip, a barber 
and an amateur actor, to frighten him, 
which quickly gets rid of him. 

Your Life’s in Danger. 1 Act. By 
J. M. Morton. Dutch Costume. Time, 
60 min. 1 Drawing-room Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Chambermaid; and a few Supers. 
Schpoonenberg (a burgomaster) has in¬ 
structions to arrest a notorious rebel, 
but is afraid to do so as he himself is 
in league with him. This rebel, who is a 
baron, assumes the name of John 
Strong. A man named John Strong 
applies for a cook’s situation at the 
burgomaster’s, and soldiers are sent 
to arrest him. In the meantime the 
Baron has been pardoned. 


COMEDIES 


After a Storm, etc. 1 Act. By J 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time. 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Walking Ladirs. A 
storm is occasioned by the action of a 
mother-in-law, who resides with her 
married son. A calm comes when the 
mother is betrothed to an early lover. 

Always Intended. 1 Act. By H. 
Wigan. Modern Costume. Time, 60 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; _ 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. A young couple are 
about to be married, because it was 
always intended they should be by 
their parents. 

Anything: for a Change. 1 Act. By 
Shirley Brooks. Time, 51 min. Modern 
Costume. 1 Interior Room Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. The Light Comedian has the 
leading part, which was most success¬ 
fully played by Mr. Matthews. Great 
amusement is afforded by this charac¬ 
ter, never being satisfied with anything 
of his own, but always desiring the 
property of others. 

Circumstances alter Cases. l 

Act. By Isodore G. Ascher. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; l Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; l Low Comedian; 1 Old 


Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. A young 
lady is engaged to her guardian from 
motives of gratitude. She has learned 
to love somebody else. The guardian’s 
affections also lean towards another 
lady, so the lovers decide to follow 
their own inclinations. 

Dying: for Love. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Utility. 
Mrs. Mangle, wife of a physician, is 
distressed because she hears that Cap¬ 
tain Fickleton has destroyed himself 
on account of his passion for her, but 
is relieved to find he is still alive, and 
has expressed the same resolve to her 
friend, Mrs. Lorimer. a widow, to 
whom he afterwards gets engaged. 

First Come, First Served. 1 Act. 

By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. An aunt 
will not allow the younger of her two 
nieces to marry first. The lovers play 
at cross purposes, but afterwards a 
satisfactery conclusion is arrived at. 

Head of Romulus. 1 Act. By Syd¬ 
ney Grundy. Modern Costume. Time. 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Joshua Turnbull, a rich 


SIX CHARACTERS. 


47 


retired oil and tallow merchant, has 
arranged for his daughter Dolly to 
marry Harold, son of Sir Barnes Barn¬ 
staple, an impecunious baronet. The 
young people are introduced, and 
mutually agree that the arrangements 
made by their parents are most ridi¬ 
culous and unsuitable; they see no 
reason why they may not become 
friends, and become so favourably dis¬ 
posed towards each other that they 
agree to marry. 

House or the Home. 2 Acts. By 
Tom Taylor. Modern Costume. Time, 

1 hour 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Lady Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Lady Helen Chetwynd is neglected by 
her husband, who is much engaged by 
his ministerial duties. She finds con¬ 
solation in the companionship of 
Frederick Wardour, who loved her 
before her marriage. Matters assume 
an awkward aspect, but everything is 
put right by the tact of Frederick’s 
mother. 

Lesson in Love. 3 Acts. By C. S. 
Cheltnam. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 5 min. 1 Interior; 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Lady Comedian; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A 
gentleman retiring from the army, and 
wishing to marry, requests a young 
wfidow to find him a wife and give 
him lessons in making love. He even¬ 
tually marries the widow herself. 

Love’s Telegraph. 3 Acts. Costume, 
period 1760. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 
Interior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies: and 
some supers. The Princess Blanche 
falls in love with Arthur de Solberg, 
who is already in love with another 
lady, and writes a letter to h r m declar¬ 
ing herself. Arthur hands this letter 
to the Prince of Heinhalt, thinking it 
is meant for him. The Princess, find¬ 
ing that Arthur is betrothed, gets en¬ 
gaged to the Prince. 

Man Proposes 1 Act. By Fred 
Langbridge. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
nephew marries without his uncle’s 
consent. The uncle suddenly arrives, 
and the nephew introduces his wife 
as Miss Groves. The uncle falls in 
love with her, and communicates his 
intentions to the housekeeper and 
servant-maid in such a manner as to 
make them believe he is proposing to 
them. 

Midsummer Day. 1 Act. By Walter 
Frith. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 


Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. and Mrs. 
Merton have been separated from each 
other for ten years. They agree that 
one half the year their home should be 
inhabited by Mrs. Merton and their 
daughter, and the remaining six 
months by Mr. Merton and his valet. 
Through some mistake Mr. Merton ar¬ 
rives a day too soon. He meets his 
daughter and her lover, and through 
them consents to interview his wife, 
when they agree to bury old griev¬ 
ances. 

My Wife’s Father’s Sister. Come¬ 
dietta in 1 Act. By T. E. Pemberton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 m n. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. A 
young couple return from their honey¬ 
moon, and the wife is besieged by a 
scandalous lot of neighbours, who have 
a deal to say about the husband being 
seen with a certain lady at the rail¬ 
way station. This lady, however, 
turns out to be the wife’s father’s 
sister. 

New Groom. 1 Act. By Charles 
Hannan. Costume, Powder Period. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Old Women; 1 Walking 
Lady. Charles Carew at night has 
saved a housemaid’s life. He makes 
an appointment to meet her, and in 
order that she may think he is in her 
own station of life he changes costumes 
with his groom. His father and 
mother have resolved to marry him to 
his cousin, Maud, who appears, and is 
mistaken by Charles for the house¬ 
maid. He eventually becomes engaged 
to her. 

Observation and Flirtation. 1 

Act. By Horace Wigan. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady: 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Sanguine makes 
love to Mrs. Seedeep, a married lady, 
and Mrs. Lambert, a widow. These 
two ladies are old acquaintances, com¬ 
pare notes, and expose Mr. Sanguine, 
who is glad to make a hasty retreat. 

Orange Blossoms. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 55 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 3 Lady 
Comedians. The chief characters com¬ 
prise a young gentleman who is averse 
to the ladies, and a young lady who is 
a man-hater. These two, however, 
manage to get engaged to each other. 

Patron Saint. 1 Act. By Charles 

Thomas. ‘ Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 3 Walking 
Ladies. Arthur Melton, of the diplo¬ 
matic service, is in love with Lillian 


48 


Six characters. 


Trevor, but the latter will not accept 
him because their combined incomes 
would be insufficient. There is a 
vacancy at the Vienna Embassy which 
would give Arthur the necessary 
means, and Lillian cleverly obtains 
him the appointment. 

Romantic Attachment. 1 Act. By 

A. Wood. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian, l 
Low Comed’an; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A capricious young lady, in 
order to make her lover propose to her, 
pretends she is engaged to a country 
yokel, whom she dresses up. The lover 
on his part, however, makes out he is 
in love with the maidservant, but the 
yokel, who is engaged to the maid¬ 
servant, in a fit of jealousy cannot 
keep up the game. 

School for Coquettes. 1 Act. By 

J. Palgrave Simpson. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 1 Tnt r rior 
Scene; 3 Comedians; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Chambermaid. Sir Aubrey 
Glenmorris makes love to Lady Ama- 
ranthe Allwill, a famous coquette, 


under the assumed name of Mr. Frank- 
land. His wife. Lady Glenmorris, is 
a friend of Lady Allwill, and learns 
from her how to regain her lost in¬ 
fluence with her husband. 

Which is Which? 1 Act. By T. 

Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time. 55 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Juvenile Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman. A poor artist, overwhelmed 
with creditors, is advised by his uncle 
to marry. The uncle undertakes to 
send him a rich young lady, who ar¬ 
rives, accompanied by a friend, the 
latter m reduced circumstances. The 
artist seeing the two is puzzled to 
know which is which, and an amusing 
scene follows. He eventually chooses 
the right one. 

William Simpson. 1 Act. By P. 
FitzGerald, M.A. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Comedian; ] 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 
2 Walking Ladies. Mr. Gaychicken 
imagines his beloved will be carried off 
by a certain William Simrson. This 
happens to be the name of a ship. 


DRAMAS. 


Sought. 3 Acts. By Frank Harvey. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Interior; 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
The heroine of this play marries a man 
20 years older than herself, discarding 
her lover to save her father from ruin. 

Jacobite (The). (Comic.) 2 Acts. By 
J. R. Planche. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 
Costume, George II. 2 Interior Scenes; 

2 Comedians; 1 Low Cmnedian; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chambermaid; and a few Supers. 
Sir Richard Wroughton desires to 
marry his cousin, Lady Somerford, but 
she is in love with Major Murray, who 
has displeased the King and is wanted. 
Wroughton succeeds in arresting Mur¬ 
ray, but Lady Somerford obtains a par¬ 
don and releases him. 

Lady Fortune. 1 Act. By Charles 
Thomas. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Man; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A wealthy widow has. a 
daughter who decides to . live 
among the poor to ameliorate 
their condition. Unknown to the 
daughter, the mother loses her money. 
The daughter is in love with a young 
artist, but consents to wed the son of 
a wealthy peer from a sense of duty 
upon learning their condition, but he, 
discovering the motive of her consent, 
renounces her hand. The artist’s pic¬ 
ture finding a wealthy purchaser, th« 
ftovers are happily united. 


Little Toddlekins. (Comic.) 1 Aet. 
By Charles Mathews. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 O d 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Chambermaids. Brown- 
smith, a widower, is about to marry 
again. His intended, Annie, and her 
father arrive, and discover that Brown- 
smith has a daughter, whom he calls 
Little Toddlekins, and is 48 years old 
Brownsmith’s happiness is thrn com¬ 
pleted by Annie’s father marrying this 
daughter. 

Short and Sweet. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; t Utility. 
Mr. and Mrs. Short and Mr. and Mrs. 
Sweet reside together. Domestic 
squabbles arise through Mr. Sweet 
wishing his wife to behave to him in 
the same manner as Mrs. Short does 
to her husband. 

Sunset. 1 Act. By Jerome K. Jerome. 
Modern Costume. Time, 55 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Lois’s father wishes her to marry 
Azariah Stodd, a young farmer. She 
loves a young barrister, and is secretly 
engaged. Her half-sister Joan arrives 
from abroad, and tells Lois of a love 
affair she has had, but the man she 
loves cannot marry her as he is en¬ 
gaged to another. Lois discovers this 
is her own lover, and generously sacri¬ 
fices her own happiness to smooth th« 
way for her half-sisltr. 


BIX CHARACTERS, 


49 


Sunshine through the Clouds. 1 

Act. By Slingsby Lawrence. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 
1 Old Man; 1 Lady Comedian- 2 
Walking Ladies. Adapted from_ La 
Joie fait peur.” Mrs. Cleveland is in¬ 
consolable at the supposed loss of her 
son. His unexpected return, and 
breaking the news to the mother, form 
the plot of the play. 


Too much of a Good Thing. 

(Comic.) 1 Act. By A. Harris. 
Modem Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
A husband is having too much of a 
good thing in his wife’s constant de¬ 
votion. He adopts the idea of feign¬ 
ing illness, and carries on his cwn 
pleasures during his wife’s absence 
from his side. 


FOUR MALES AND TWO FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Advice Gratis. 1 Act. By Charles 
Dance. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. 
Mr. Oldbody is noted for giving advice 
gratis on all occasions. He is de¬ 
sirous of marrying his ward and cousin, 
Ellen, himself, but rinfortunately ad¬ 
vices Edmund Eventide to make love 
to the first pretty girl he meets. In 
doing this. Edmund captivates Ellen, 
and Oldbody has to consent. 

Artist's Model. 1 Act. By Neville 
Lynn. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Inferior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. Belvedere Brown has 
a drunken model, William Bloater. 
Belvedere is secretly engaged to Helen, 
who comes to sit as a model for the 
Spirit of Virtue. Helen’s mother and 
uncle arrive, and Bloater’s behaviour 
almost loses him her hand. 

B.B. 1 Act. By M. Williams and F. C. 
Burnand. Country Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
3 Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Benjamin Bobbin, 
in proposing to a certain widowed 
a short nervous individual, arrives at 
an inn in Northumberland, and is mis¬ 
taken for the fighting man known as 
the Benicia Boy, in consequence of his 
luggage being marked B.B. 

Behind Time. 1 Act By E. Webster. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Interior Scene; 4 Low Comedians; 2 
Walking Ladies. Describes a gentle¬ 
man who has always been behind time 
in proposing to a certain widowed 
lady when she was single. 

Bengal Tig;er. 1 Act. By C. Dance. 
Modern Costume. Time. 55 m n. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. _ An 
irascible old uncle from India is in¬ 
duced by an elderly spinster to pro¬ 
mise to marry her. He, however, over¬ 
bears her intentions to marry him for 


his money, and thus cheat his nephew 
and niece out of the property. Hei 
plans fail, and the nephew, who was 
in difficulties, is reinstated. 

Catch a Weasel. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time. 55 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Tomp¬ 
kins Tipthorne is endeavouring to 
sell Mr. Nupkins a pony, the latter 
imagining all the while that he is pro¬ 
posing for the hand of his daughter. 

Catching- a Mermaid. 1 Act. By 
J. S. Coyne. Extravagant Peasant 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Exterior 
Village Green Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Old Woman; 
and some Supers. A country fair is 
represented in this piece, which would 
find favour with a village audience. 

Dandelion’s Dodges. 1 Act. By 

T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Walking 
Lady. A rich old retired money¬ 
lender and a young squire are paying 
their addresses to a young widow. The 
former engages a yokel to carry mes¬ 
sages to the lady, and the way the 
countryman delivers them, and the 
many artful dodges he is up to are 
very diverting. The squire finally 
carries off the prize. 

Double-bedded Room. 1 Act. By 

J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Bedroom Scenj^ 1 Old 
Man; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians: 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
A landlord lets a double-bedded room 
to one party, and his daughter lets it 
to another, and a most ludicrous scene 
follows. 

Dreadfully Alarming-. 1 Act. By 

C. Edwards and E. Cullerne. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Garden 
Scene with practical wall at back; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 


50 


8IX CHARACTERS. 


ij»dy; 1 Chambermaid. The lovers of 
a maid-servant and the daughter of a 
nervous old gentleman secretly visit 
the objects of their affection, and the 
old gentleman takes them for burglars. 

Fabricato. 1 Act. By Myles Waller- 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 3 Low Comedians; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Claud’s father and 
Lucy’s guardian are rival poets. As if 
this alone was not sufficient impedi¬ 
ment to their peace and marriage, 
Claud’s father writes some verse which 
is a glaring appropriation of the guar¬ 
dian’s masterpiece. A third party con¬ 
tends that they have both been antici¬ 
pated in their passage by a fictitious 
Fabricato, poet of the seventh century. 
This restores harmony. 

Family Jars. 1 Act. By J. Lunn. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. In¬ 
terior Short Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Porcelain is about to re¬ 
tire, and arranges with his foreman, 
Delph, that their respective sons 
should carry on the business as mas¬ 
ter and man. Suitable wives must be 
found for the sons, but it is dis¬ 
covered they are both secretly mar¬ 
ried. and Delph’s son’s wife, a common 
Irish girl, gets introduced to Porce¬ 
lain as his own son’s wife. 

Founded on Facts. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
mm. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Two ladies in this 
piece have to assume male attire in 
order to appease the wrath of the 
father of one of them, who is em¬ 
bittered against her lover. 

Four Sisters. 1 Act. By Bayle Ber¬ 
nard. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 2 Scenes, Parlour of an Inn, 
and Drawing-room; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. 
A young lady impersonates the charac¬ 
ter of four sisters in order to turn the 
tables upon a gentleman visiting the 
house, who has libelled her sex. The 
first scene may be entirely omitted. 

Grimshaw, Bagshaw, and Brad¬ 
shaw. 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Bedroom Scene; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Many complications 
arise through the similarity of the 
names of three gentlemen, Grimshaw, 
Bagshaw, and Bradshaw. Towzer, a 
sheriff’s officer, is after Bagshaw for 
debt, and bv mistake gets hold of 
Grimshaw, who has Bagshaw’s hat on. 
The debt is afterwards paid, 


Happy Medium. 1 Act. By T. B 

Pemberton. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady. Shows how a young 
gentleman obtains the consent of an 
irascible father to marry his daughter. 

Highland Fling. 1 Act. By J. J. 

Dilly. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene, Tobacconist’* 
Shop; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady. Much amusement is 
caused by a detective dressing up as 
a Highlander, and standing as a figure 
at the tobacconist’s shop. 


John Wopps. 1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 

Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 4 Low Comedians; 2 
Chambermaids. Mr. John Wopps (a 
policeman) and Mr. Chops (a journey¬ 
man butcher) reside with their respec¬ 
tive wives in the same house. The 
complications and jealousy which en¬ 
sue always have a good effect upon 
an audience. 

Lame Excuse. 1 Act. By F. Hay. 

Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
young lady has two lovers, one selected 
by her father, and the other by her¬ 
self. Both their names are Frank, 
and one gets a letter intended for the 
other, the result being very ludicrous. 

Leave it to Me. 1 Act. By C. H. 
Hazlewood and A. Williams. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A screaming 
farce. An old gentleman will not 
allow his daughter to marry Adolphus 
Courtley. So, to further his ends, the 
young gentleman dresses the maid’s 
young man (who is a costermonger) as 
a spiritualist doctor, and plays such 
pranks on the old man that he is 
willing to give his consent to the mar¬ 
riage. 

Lion Slayer. 1 Act. By T. J. Wil¬ 
liams. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Old Man; 

1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. A lion having escaped 
from a menagerie, the great lion slayer, 
Gordon Cumming, is expected to re¬ 
capture or destroy the animal. An 
inoffensive gentleman, named Gulliver 
Cumming, arrives, and he is mistaken 
for the lion slayer. 

Little Savage. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour, l Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 


«IX CHARACTERS. 


51 


1 Light Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 
1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian. 
John Parker sends a friend, Lionel 
Lark : ns, to see what Kate Dalrymple 
is like, as he purposes marrying her. 
Lionel falls in love with Kate, and 
makes out to John that she is a little 
savage. Parker goes himself, dis¬ 
covers the deception, and wins her. 

Lodgers and Dodgers. 1 Act. By 
F. Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene : 2 7 ow Come¬ 
dians; 2 Utility; 1 Oid Woman; 1= 
Walking Lady. Mr. Singleton Sud¬ 
bury cannot pay his rent. He is in 
love with Julia. Juniper. His rich 
uncle, Hezekiah Plumper, arrives, and 
has conceived a dislike to Julia, al¬ 
though he has not seen her. Julia 
dresses up as a maid of all work, and 
so captivates the uncle, and makes 
everythin? smooth 

Li cky Sixpence. 1 Act. Bv E. J. 
Browne. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Ut’ f v; 2 Walking Ladies. A 
scamp imposes on an old gentlem&n 
by representing that he is his nephew. 
Master Jones’s Birthday. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 2 Utility (boys); 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Adolphus Fitztopper is a dramatic 
author, and wishes to alter one of his 
plays, but is continually interrupted 
by everyone mistaking his apartment 
for the one above, where a party is 
being given in honour of Master 
Jones’s birthday. 

Model Husband. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. A wife and mother-in- 
law make a simpleton of a husband do 
all the housework, cooking, etc. The hus¬ 
band’s brother arrives, and is the 
means of making a decided alteration. 

New Footman. 1 Act. By C. Selby. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Eccentric Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Old Woman. Harry Gordon 
is desired by his uncle to marry an old 
maid, if he wishes to inherit his for¬ 
tune. A new footman is engaged in 
the house, who, at the dictation of the 
servant-maid, proceeds to frustrate the 
old man’s plans. 

No. 6, Duke Street. 1 Act. By M. 
Becher. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Mr. Themistocles Judd 
takes lodgings at No. 6 , Duke Street, 


which belong to Mr. and Mrs. Tom 
Jarvis, a runaway couple, whom the 
landlady thinks have gone aw^ay for a 
short time. The father of the young 
couple comes and mistakes Mr. Judd 
for the one who stole his daughter, 
his initials being the same. The run¬ 
aways return, and matters are ex¬ 
plained. 

Nursery Chickweed. 1 Act. By T. 
J. Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Chickweed and his wife 
have been entrusted with Mr. and Mrs. 
Mountsorrel’s infant daughter while 
they were abroad. Mrs. Chickweed 
elopes, and in order to still receive the 
yearly payment. Chickweed brings the 
young lady up himself. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mountsorrel unexpectedly return, 
when the child is 14, and find her 
grown into a country rustic, dirty and 
uneducated. duckweed's lemma 
and Nelly’s behaviour form the 
humorous part of the farce. 

Old and Young-. 1 Act. Old Fashioned 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian. An 
impersonation farce of the old style, 
the lady comedian appearing succes¬ 
sively as a precocious boy, a glutton, 
and a fop. 

Old Gooseberry. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. One 
of the author’s best farces. The prin¬ 
cipal fun is centred in a deaf old man, 
who imagines everyone is talking plea¬ 
santly of him. He secretly gets cured, 
and is astonished to find that his 
imagination was incorrect. 

One Too Many. 1 Act. By D. L. 
Ityan. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A young 
gentleman who had been forbidden to 
pay his addresses to the lady of his 
choice, obtained his suit by entering 
the house disguised as a broker’s man. 

Petticoat Government. 1 Act. By 

George Dance. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Exterior and 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 2 Low Comedians; 

2 Chambermaids. Hectic, an -Id 
bache’or, is completely governed by Ins 
housekeeper, but the latter’s plans are 
frustrated by Clover, an old friend of 
Hectic’s. 

Return Ticket. 1 Act. By G. Spencer 
and W. James. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 3 Low Comedians; 2 Walk' 


62 


8IX CHARACTER*, 


in? Ladies. A father wishes to select 
husbands for his two daughters 
amongst the inventors at the Exhibi¬ 
tion. Their lovers come disguised as 
invpntors and win the objects of their 
affection. 

Sp^nogoat. 1 Act. By J. Poole. 

Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
father leaves his son in charge of a 
tutor, and during h's absence the son 
secretly marries. His difficulty in tell¬ 
ing his father is herein described. 

Secret (The). 1 Act. By Wm. Barry¬ 
more. Modern Costume. _ Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene, with Sliding 
Panel; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Valare having fought 
a duel, and supposed to have killed his 
adversary, is hidden in ? secret cham¬ 
ber by his friend, Dupuis. Mrs. 
Dupuis’s suspicions are aroused, and 
complications ensue. News being 
brought that the adversary was not 
dead, explanations follow. There is a. 
good comical and inquisitive footman s 
part, and the piece contains some very 
ludicrous situations. 

Slice of Luck. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Mr. Triptolemus Twitter, 
an elderly nervous man, having gained 
a prize in a lottery, seeks a relative to 
inherit his fortune, and becomes ter¬ 
ribly apprehensive of the consequences 
of an invitation he has given to ft 
female cousin to reside with him. 
Summoned to Court. 1 Act. By J. 
J Dilley and L. Clifton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. # Mr. 
Tibbs being summoned on the jury, 
causes a statement to be made to the 
effect that he‘died a year previously. 
He hears that an officer of the court 
will come to his house in disguise to 
learn the truth, and an old lover of 
his daughter appears, who is mistaken 
for the officer. ... , . . 

Thirty-three Next Birthday- 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time. 45 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Chambermaid. A lady, who is 
33 next birthdaj, travels in search of a 


husband, having previously refused ftll 
offers made to her. 

Tjmothy to the Rescue. 1 Act. 

By H. J. Byron. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene ; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. A hus¬ 
band is hen-pecked both by his wife 
and mother-in-law. As a last resource 
he gets his friend, Timothy, an 
itinerant actor, to come to the rescue. 

Tweedletom’s Tail-Coat. 1 Act. By 
T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 42 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Low Cornelians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Toby 

Tweedleton is poor and nervous, and 
in order to attend a banquet, given by 
the father of his adored one, he uses 
a coat which was accidentally thrown 
out of a window. The owner of the 
coat appears, and Toby endeavours to 
foist it upon others, and learns a 
moral never to dress in borrowed 
plumes. 

Two Gresrories. 1 Act. By T. Dib- 

din. Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 

1 Exterior Scene; 1 Interior Scene; 

1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Frenchman; 1 Lady Comedian* 1 
Chambermaid. An old farce, in which 
there are two persons named Gregory, 
and one gets the reward intended for 
the other for saving an Englishman 
who w^as attacked by robbers. 

Up a Tree. 1 Act. By T. J. Williams. 
Modern Costume. Time, 48 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Eccentric Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Cymon Dovecot is engaged to Kate, a 
young widow, who will not marry him 
until he has obtained a certain plot of 
land. The owner of this land asks an 
extortionate price, and buyer and 
seller each in turn get the better of one 
another. 

Which? 1 Act. By A. G. Bagot. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 mm. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 TV'srht 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. This is a rollicking piece, 
showing the troubles a gentleman has 
to contend with by becoming engaged 
to three young ladies. 

Wooing- One’s Wife. 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. German Costume, 
Frederick the Great. Time, 55 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 

2 Comedians; 1 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians. A major woos his own wife, to 
whom he has been married by proxy, 
in accordance with the King’s orders. 


COMEDIES. 


Bed of Roses. 1 Act. By H. A. 

Jones. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 2 Walking Ladies. An irascible 


father having turned his son out of 
doors three years previously, forbids 
his daughter to marry his medical at¬ 
tendant. The son returns, and the 
father relents when he learns that the 


BIT CHARACTERS 


53 


Vesical attendant has been the means 
of saving his son’s life in the Cape 
War. 

Charles II. 2 Acts. By J. H. Payne. 
Costume, Charles II. Time, 1 hour 50 
min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 

2 Light Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Describes one 
of the freaks of the above merry mon¬ 
arch with Lord Rochester at a Wap- 
ping tavern, whereby the landlord’s 
niece is discovered to be Rochester’s 
kinswoman, and is betrothed to the 
King’s page. 

Daughter to Marry. 1 Act. By J. 

R. Planche. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Old Woman: 1 Walking Lady. . Mr. 
and Mrs. Dobbs are about to receive a 
visit from a gentleman whom they 
hope to make their son-in-law, and 
dress up themselves and daughter (who 
is a simple country maiden) in extra¬ 
vagant costume. The gentleman is 
not impressed with the daughter under 
these circumstances, but subsequently 
seeing her in her usual costume and 
manner, he falls in love with her. 

Duchess of Bayswater and Co. 1 
Act. By A. M. Heathcote. Modern 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking.Lady. This 
is a very amusing little piece, and has 
attained great success. . It is a skit 
unon the aristocracy going into trade. 
The energetic business proclivities 
of the Duke of Bayswater and 
his mother show a very strong 
contrast to Sir Jeremy Joles 
nature, who is averse to his daughter 
marrying the son of a trades¬ 
man. The demora’lsed condition of 
the titled aristocracy at last decides 
him to give his consent. __ 

Gentleman Whip. 1 Act. By H. M. 
Pauli. Costumes, Early Victorian. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Ellicott, Sen., has gambled away his 
estates unknown to his son, and in 
order to gain a livelihood drives a 
coach under the name of Brown. . The 
son falls in love with Mabel Verinder, 
whose aunt will not at first consent, 
but does so on learning that the father 
shielded the reputation of her sister. 

His Excellency. 1 Act. Bv C. 
Mathews. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Light 
Comedian: 1 Utilitv; 1 Walking 

Ladv; 1 Lady Comedian. The va’et 
of the Count de Rosada has under¬ 
taken the management of the love 
affairs of the Count’s daughter, whose 
lover has been forbidden the house, 
and this is accomplished in a very 
speedy and most satisfactory manner. 


I've Written to Browne. 1 Act. Bj 

T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Light Comedian' 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. A widow is engaged to her 
lawyer, but is desirous of breaking off 
the match in favour of another gentle¬ 
man. The lawyer has fallen in love 
with the widow’s sister, and he also 
wishes to be released from the widow, 
but neither knows how to set about it. 
The lawyer writes for advice to his 
friend Browne, who arrives on the 
scene and makes matters worse, but 
afterwards their ends are attained. 

Lucky Miss Dean. 3 Acts. By Sidney 
Bowkett. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout; 2 Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Old Woman. A 
penniless young artist is secretly mar¬ 
ried to Acacia Dean, whose aunt, Lady 
Ashmole, allows her £200 a year. 
Ware, the husband, has his studio on 
the same floor as Acacia’s flat. He 
conceives the idea of inserting a para¬ 
graph in a newspaper stating a large 
fortune has been left Acacia. This 
brings around the bait all her rela¬ 
tions. Her two cousins, Wilfrid and 
Horace, press their respective suits 
steadily. Acacia tells them her dar¬ 
ling whim is to possess her portrait by 
Ware, hung in the Academy. Ware 
assumes Acacia’s solicitor, and obtains 
cheques from both parties. The 
scheme, however, breaks down; but a 
commission from an American saves 
the situation. 

Naval Engagements. 2 Acts. By 

C. Dance. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 10 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Low 
Comedians: 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Admiral Kingston and 
his son, Lieut. Kingston, have agreed 
not to marry a woman of an unsuitable 
age. The Admiral gets engaged to a 
young lady, and his son to a woman 
some years older than himself. They 
finally exchange ladies. With a little 
alteration of the text can be played in 
one scene. 

Off Duty. 1 Act. By T. E. Pember¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A 
police inspector is in the habit of sus¬ 
pecting crime when anything, unusual 
takes place. He supposes his niece’s 
lover has been guilty of secreting stolen 
notes, which prove to have been de¬ 
posited where they were found by the 
inspector’s own brother. 

Real and Ideal. 1 Act. By H, 
Wigan. Modern Costume. Time. 1 
hour 5 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 

* C o*-,* 9 T* r ^ 1]^-nr • J 

Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. Mr. Bonus. 


54 


SIX CHARACTERS. 


a wealthy stockbroker, is guardian to 
Lucy Brandon, to whom her father eft 
a large fortune on condition shi mar¬ 
ried him. Lucy loves Frederick Her¬ 
bert. who has to go through some 
humorous scenes before he obtains the 
hand of Lucy. 

Withered Leaves. 1 Act. By F. W. 
Broughton. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old 
man; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. One of the best pieces 
ever written. A son, who has been 
estranged from his father for some 
time, accidentally meets his father’s 
second wife, who is a prepossessing 
young lady. An interesting scene en- 


siip«. and father and son ar« tecon 
ciled. 

Yeoman’s Service. 1 Act. By T. 

Edgar Pemberton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Lady Comedian. G.ibert 
Throughton, the heir of Through- 
ton Manor, gets into the hands 
of an adventuress and marries 
her. Humphrey Yeoman, a well- 
to-do farmer, had endeavoured to pre¬ 
vent the marriage. He is enabled to 
bring forward evidence that the ad¬ 
venturess has already a former hus¬ 
band living 


DRAMAS 


Awaking^ i Act. By C. Clarke. 

Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Child; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. A father having five 
years previously accidentally shot his 
child, the shock turns his brain. In 
order to obtain his recovery they dress 
up his second child, and make him 
believe that he has had brain fever, 
and that the accident was but a dream. 

Daddy Hardacre. 2 Acts. By J. P. 
Simpson. Costume, 1820. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 1 Interior Scene through¬ 
out; 2 Old Men; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. 
An old miser, Daddy Hardacre, living 
with his daughter, Esther, is vis'ted 
by his nephew, Charles. Daddy Far fi¬ 
acre receives a letter from Charles’s 
father stating he has lost his money, 
and, being unable to bear the loss, will 
die by his own hand. Esther, knowing 
where her father’s money is kept, takes 
the amount required to save Charles’s 
father, and Ha'dacre, finding it out, 
accuses his nephew of the robbery. The 
truth is discovered, and Charles is en¬ 
gaged to Esther. 

Gertrude’s Money Box. (Comic.) 1 
Act. By Harry Lemon. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
2 Low Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Chambermaid; 

1 Old Woman. Fred Burton, having 
squandered his money, lives in a poor 
man’s cottage and cannot pay for his 
lodging. He has fallen in love with 
the daughter, and receives a letter in¬ 
forming him that he has come into 
£10.000. In order to test the daughter’s 
love he puts the letter in her money 
box, and spreads a report that she has 
come into the money. His plan is 
effectual, and they become engaged. 

Grist to the Mill. (Comic.) 2 Acts 
By J. R. Planche. Powder Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Exterior and 1 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Wa'kmg 
Genlleman; 1 Light Comedian; 1 O'- 7 
Man; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Francine, a miller’s daughter, 


is much sought after by the nobles of 
the court, and in order to be relieved 
of the attentions of the Prince de 
Conti, she makes out. she is married to 
the Marquis de Richeville, to whom 
she is afterwards betrothed. 

Hal, the Highwayman. 1 Act. By 
H. M. Pauli. Costume, 1752. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. The country¬ 
side round “ The Bull ” tavern is in 
terror of a highwayman, known as 
“ Handsome Hal.” There is a price 
on his head, and in revenge for having 
jilted her, Kitty Carter, a girl at the 
mn, decides to betray him. Sir James 
Mortimer and daughter, uncle and 
cousin of Hal, arrive at the inn, and 
by their instrumentality he is enabled 
to escape. 

How to Make Home Happy. 

(Comic.) 1 Act. By Wm. Brough. 
Modern Costume. Time, 55 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. Mrs. Dabchick is ex¬ 
tremely jealous of her husband, a law¬ 
yer, who has to send all lady clients 
under 50 to his friend, Tuffins. Mat¬ 
ters get very unbearable, and Mrs. 
Dabchick receives a well-merited 
lesson. 

Man Who Stole the Castle. In 1 

Act. By Tom Gallon and L. M. Lion. 
One shilling. 4 Males: 2 Females. 
18th Century Costume. Time, 45 min. 
1 Interior Scene. Jack Dalwyn, son 
of a wealthy linendraper, has inherited 
the castle and estates of a dead bank¬ 
rupt nobleman. The children of the 
late owner, a boy of 11 and a girl of 9, 
have been told by an old nurse that 
a “wicked man has stolen the castle.” 
They return suddenly on Christmas 
Eve. The boy challenges Jack to 
mortal combat for the castle. In the 
end Tack is won over by the artlessness 
of +he children and rides away, leav¬ 
ing them in possession of their old 
home. 


8IX CHARACTERS 


55 


Meadow Sweet. I Act. By C. M. 

Prevost. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; ? 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Walking Ladies. Benjamin 
Barnes, a farmer, has educated his son 
John, and desires him to marry his 
niece Margery. John arrives from town, 
bringing a brother and sister, Fred 
and Julia Topliff. John behaves in an 
objectionable manner, and gets his 
cousin to give him up, whereupon Mar¬ 
gery becomes engaged to Fred. John 
proposes to Julia, but is rejected with 
scorn. 

Milky White. (Serio-Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By H. T. Craven. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 45 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Utility ; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Juvenile Lady. Milky 
White, an irascible old cowkeeper, is 
at variance with everybody. He has 
great affection for his only daughter, 
who is in love with a young veterinary 
surgeon, but to whom Milkv White 
objects. She is turned out of the house 
by her father in a fit of passion, who 
is afterwards overcome with remorse. 
Through the good offices of a neigh¬ 
bour, a general reconciliation is 
effected between all parties. 

Phenomenon in £| Smock Frock. 
(Comic.) In 1 Act. By William 
Brough. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Sowerberry pines for a servant who will 
tell nothing but the truth- he finds 
one in his milkman, who, by strictly 
adhering to his engagement, leads Mr. 
Sowerberry into various dilemmas. 

Pity. 1 Act. By Arthur Shirley. _ Cos¬ 
tume, period 1470. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Old Woman. Gringoire, a 
wandering ballad monger, is brought 
before King Louis XI. and commanded 
to recite. Not knowing before whom 
he is appearing, he selects a revolu¬ 
tionary poem, and in consequence is 
condemned to death. The Royal 
clemency is afterwards extended him, 
on condition that he induces a certain 
girl to marry him within an hour. He 
ultimately gains her affection, and 
escapes his doom 

Poor Cousin Walter. 1 Act. By J. 

Palgrave Simpson. Costume, either 
Charles II. or George I. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 

I Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. Sir 


Argent Buoyant arrives with his 
daughter, Helen, at Sir Jasper Hazel- 
ton’s Hall, whose son, Philip, Sir 
Argent wishes Helen to marry. Philip 
has a poor cousin, Walter, and these 
two disguise each other, and change 
places in order to test Helen; she, 
however, falls in love with Walter, 
who afterwards proves to be the heir 
to the estate. 

Queer Street. 2 Acts. By Richard 
Henry. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
2 Low Comedians: 1 Old Man; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Wilson 
is a clerk in great distress. A friendly 
cabman finds a pocket-book containing 
bank-notes, and leaves it with Wilson 
to be taken care of. Wilson is tempted 
to appropriate the money, but resists 
the impulse. The notes are then lost, 
but afterwards recovered, and handed 
to Wilson by the owner, as the gift 
from the deceased mother of a child 
whom Wilson had adopted. 

Romantic Idea. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
J. R. Planche. Costume, first German, 
then change to 15th Century. Time, 1 
hour. 3 Exterior Scenes; 1 Light 
Comedian- 1 Old Man; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Lady Comedians. A young 
German author in search of a romantic 
idea comes across the ruins of the 
Castle of Spectresheim, and learns the 
legend attached to it. He visits the 
ruins and falls asleep, and the story is 
acted in his dream. 

Rough Diamond. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By J. B. Buckstone. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian1 Chambermaid. Sir Wm. 
Evergreen marries a farmer’s daughter, 
and tries to educate her for her new 
position. The result of his endeavours 
and a visit from her cousin Joe form 
an exceedingly amusing plot. A fine 
part for the chambermaid. 

Through Fire and Water. (Comic.) 
2 Acts. By Walter Gordon. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 25 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Joe Bright and his 
sister, Honor, have brought up a young 
girl, Ruth, whom years ago Joe saved 
from a fire. Joe has fallen in love with 
her. Philip Dashwood learns Ruth has 
been left a fortune, and wishes to 
marry her to obtain possession of it. 
In this he is defeated by Kit Coventry, 
Honor’s lover, who proves afterwards 
to be Ruth’s brother. Ruth then de¬ 
clares her love for Joe. 


66 


SIX CHARACTERS. 


FIVE MALES AND ONE FEMALE 
FARCES. 


Cherry Bounce. 1 Act. By R. J. 

Raymond. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman. A Doctor’s Boy leaves a 
bottle of horse medicine by mistake at 
Mr. Oldrent’s. Two farmers come to 
pay their rent, and much amusement 
is caused by their having the horse 
medicine given to them in mistake for 
some wine. 

Chesterfield Thinskin. 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time. 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 
1 Walking Lady. Mr. Bangle wishes 
his daughter Anne to marry old Mr. 
Redtape, who would not be a suitable 
partner. Mr. Chesterfield Thinskin ar¬ 
rives, and announces he disabled Mr. 
Redtape in a duel. He then mak^s 
love to Anna, and marries her himself. 

Retained for the Defence. 1 Act. 
By John Oxenford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady. Mr. Mottley de Wind¬ 
sor hears the defence raised by Mr. 
Whitewash on behalf of Pawkins, for 
stealing a watch. The defence causes 
the acquittal of the prisoner, and Mr. 
Mottley de Windsor is so impressed 
with the manner in which Mr. White¬ 


wash has expounded the virtues of Mr. 
Pawkins. that he gives Mr. Whitewash 
his daughter, and asks Pawkins to a 
dinner party. This visit causes the 
fun of the piece, Mr. Whitewash not 
daring to tell Mr. Mottley de Windsor 
the supposed character of Pawkins, 
fearing to lose the daughter. 

Sold Again. 1 Act. By R. Soutar. 
Modern Costume. Time. 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man’ 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady. The plot of 
the piece is the same as “ Old Goose¬ 
berry.” 

Spanking Legacy. 1 Act. By T. G. 
Blake. This is another version of the 
“ Thumping Legacy,” having been 
adapted from the same original, with 
two Utility parts cut out. 

Stolen. £2 0 Reward. 1 Act. By W. 

Hancock. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Come* 
dians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady. M;, 
Jonas Chute is waiting for his master’s 
daughter to meet him in order that he 
may run away with her. His master in 
the meantime has been robbed, and 
Jonas is arrested as the thief. The 
real culprit is discovered, and the 
father gives his consent to his 
daughter’s union with Jonas. 


COMEDIES. 


Blow in the Dark. 1 Act. By T. 
Townsend. Costume, Louis XV. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 3 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. The plot 
of this play is similar to “ Lucky Hit,” 
only the lady here assumes two dis¬ 
guises. 


Rule of Three. 1 Act. By Frances 

Tallfourd. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian. Mr. Thistleburr ob¬ 
jects to any visits from his bachelor 
friends on account of his wife. Hereii 
is described the result of a visit from 
three of them. 


DRAMAS. 


Good for Nothing. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By J. B. Buckstone. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. One of the best pieces ever 
written, and few plays have ever 
reached such a popularity. A splendid 
part for “Nan,” the “Good for No¬ 
thing,” who is brought up by a gar¬ 
dener and engine driver. The mischief 
she is always up to and how she subse¬ 
quently relieves the difficulties of her 
foster-fathers is most amusing. 

Our Lottie. 1 Act. By C. S. Fawcett, 
Modern flostume. Time, 1 hour. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Boy; 1 Walking Lady. An intensely 
interesting little play. Lottie is the 


adopted daughter of a greengrocer. 
They have lodging with them Edward 
Esher, who is reduced in circum¬ 
stances. Edward falls in love with 
Lottie, and, in order to assist him, she 
anonymously sends him £5. An un¬ 
worthy admirer of Lottie’s robs a mis¬ 
sion box, and she and Edward are sus¬ 
pected of the theft. The real culprit 
being discovered, and Edward’s posi¬ 
tion being reinstated, the levers are 
made happy. 

Unlucky Friday. 1 Act. By H. T. 
Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Good fortune befalls an old man on 
Friday, who always believed it an un¬ 
lucky day. 


815YEN CHARACTERS 


6T 


SEVEN CHARACTERS. 

ONE MALE AND SIX FEMALES. 

FARCES. 


Separate Maintenance. 1 Act. By 
J. S. Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 4 Walking Ladies. A husband 


and wife do not agree. In a fit ol 
jealousy the wife resolves to have a 
separate maintenance. They each play 
their own game, and a laughable scene 
follows. Four ladies would have to as¬ 
sume male attire. 


COMEDIES. 


Man of Ideas. 1 Act. By Ada Rose. 
Modern Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 
Interior Scene; t Old Man; 4 Old 
Women; 2 Walking Ladies. Joseph 
Thrupp, an old countryman, is a man 
of ideas, one of which was to send his 


daughter Sue for a year with Mrs. 
Blair-Barton, as the latter’s adopted 
daughter, to make a lady of her. At 
the end of this period she returns te 
her parents, preferring her poor cottrage 
for her home. 


TWO MALES AND FIVE FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Cruel to be Kind. 1 Act. By T. J. 

Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
48 min. 1 Exterior; 2 Interior Scenes; 
1 Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Utility. Some years 
previously, Mrs. Trelawney, a rich 
widow, having received timely assist¬ 
ance from Mr. Cremutius Brown, who 
now has a small income and is in diffi¬ 
culties, purchases his residence, and 
also a promissory note of his. She re¬ 
lieves him of his troubles, and they 
become engaged. 


I Couldn’t Help It. 1 Act. By J. 

Oxenford. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Chambermaid; 1 Utility. Mr. and Mrs. 
Digby Precison return after 14 years’ 
absence, having left their child, Kitty, 
with her grandmother, to be properly 
reared and educated, and instead of a 
refined young lady, they find her a re¬ 
gular tomboy. She has already a lover, 
to whom the parents at once trust tha 
happiness of their daughter. 


COMEDIES. 


Birds In their Little Nests Agree." 

1 Act. By C. M. Rae. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Old 
Women; 3 Walking Ladies. A num¬ 
ber of ladies form a Society called 


The Nest.” They each represent a 
bird, and the object of the society ia 
to avoid the base and deceitful animal 
called man. A most amusing scene ia 
enacted from their project. 


THREE MALES AND FOUR FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Allow Me to Apologise. 1 Act. By 
J. P. Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior; 1 Exterior Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 3 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Goliath Goth 
proposes to two girls, the wards of Sir 
Peter Pedigree, and to escape the ven¬ 
geance of Sir Peter, pretends he is 
mad. He is found out and forgiven. 
A lady would hav« to assume male at¬ 
tire. 


Capt. Smith. 1 Act. By E. Berr'e. 

Modern Costume. Time. 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walk'ng 
I adies; 1 Chambermaid. Sir Charles 
Chatterton. in order to win a wager 
that he would enter a ladies' academy, 
ask to see a girl, cut off a lock of her 
hair, with her permission and that of 
the governess, eoes to the house and 
requests to see Miss Smith, feeling sure 


58 


§EVEN CHARACTERi 


there would be one th^re, which hap¬ 
pens to be the case. Miss Smith enters, 
she is expecting her brother from 
India. Sir Charles impersonates the 
brother. The real brother arrives, who 
fortunately happens to be a friend of 
Sir Charles’s. The latter wins the 
wager, and also the hand of the young 
lady. 

Grateful Father. 1 Act. By T. E. 
Pemberton. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. A husband who has quarrelled 
with his wife is reconciled to her 
through a swindling advertisement. 

Ici on Parle Francais. 1 Act. By 
T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time 45 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Tragedian; 1 Frenchman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Wa'king 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. It is seldom 
a farce reaches the popularity this one 
has, and it may safely be said that 
among private performers it is more 
acted than any other play. Mr. Sprig- 
gins studies “ French before breakfast” 
and displays “Ici on Parle Francais” 
in his window, in order to catch lodgers 
among foreigners of distinction, who 
do not know the difference between a 
franc and a sovereign. 

Jack’s Delight. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Chamber; 1 Old Man; 

2 Low Comedians; 2 Old Women; 1 
Chambermaid; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. 
Brush, the supposed widow of a cap¬ 
tain who is believed to have been 
killed, carries on a boisterous flirtation 
with Titus, son of Mr. Holland Brown, 
and the latter stands in awe of her on 
account of her knowledge of some 
smuggling transactions he was con¬ 
nected with. Titus is already engaged, 
and is made happy upon Mrs. Brush 
receiving a telegram that her husband 
is still living. 

My Sister from India. 1 Act. By 
C. Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 32 
min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 


man; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Tinderiy 
Timmins prepares his house in Indian 
style to receive his sister from abroad. 
When she arrives she turns the place 
upside down. Timmins then gets an 
old friend, Colonel Howitzer, to come, 
and being a friend of the sister’s hfc 
soon puts everything right. 

My Wife’s Bonnet. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 3 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. The first 
scene is rather difficult, but may be 
omitted without detriment to the 
piece and played in one room scene. 
A jealous husband finding a bonnet 
drop upon. him at the theatre, rushes 
home to his wife, thinking it is hers. 
The lady has contrived to get back be¬ 
fore him, and borrows on.e from a 
friend, and suspicions are shifted from 
one to another in an infinitely divert¬ 
ing manner. 

Never Reckon Your Chickens, etc. 

1 Act. By W. Reeve. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 3 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Glubb 
has three daughters, one affects fashion, 
the other poetry, while the third is a 
romp. The first two imagine that a 
Mr. Tinkler is deeply in love with 
them, but the gentleman prefers the 
romp. 

At Sixes and Sevens. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Utility. Teddington Lock& 
accidentally meets his wife, from whom 
he has been separated, at his friend’s, 
Colonel Scrimmage, who has ft son, 
Hector, he does not want his ward, 
Jessie, to marry. Mrs. Scrimmage en¬ 
deavours to make a match between 
Lock and Jessie, which arouses Mrs. 
Locke’s jealousy, while he is in a 
similar mood in imagining his wife is 
flirting with a Captain Royston. They 
are afterwards reunited. 


COMEDIES. 


Laurence’s Love Suit. 2 Acts. By 
J. P. Wooler. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 20 min. 8 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Juvenile Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Laurence Vane has been brought up 
in ignorance that he has £5,000 a 
year. This is known to Mrs. Markham, 
who wishes her daughter Juliet to 
marry him, but he prefers her niece 
Eva. On coming into his property, 
Laurence’s fortune is won at gamb' ng 
by his guardian disguised aft * Ger¬ 


man Baron, who restores it to him 
after Juliet has rejected him, and he is 
accepted by Eva. 

Privy Council. 1 Act. By Major W. 

P. Drury and Richard Pryfie. Cos¬ 
tume, Charles II. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Light Comedians, 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 2 
Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
Here we have the immortal Samuel 
Pepys, of diary fame, with all the tra¬ 
ditional picturesque surroundings. 
Pepys has invited an actress and two 
gentlemen to supper, Mrs. Pepys hav¬ 
ing conveniently started on a visit to 


SEVEN CHARACTERS. 


69 


Brighton. Thefe is a breakdown on 
the way. The wife retur.is home, and 
seems likely to catch her husbnnd 
finely. Knipp, Ihe actress, however, 
dresses up as Charles II., and a pre¬ 
tended Privy Council is arranged. 
Angrily bursting in on the assembly, 
Mistress Pepys is mightily put to 
shame. 

Snug- Little kingdom. 50 cents. 8 
Acts. By Mark Ambient. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2i hours. 1 Interior 


Scene throughout; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come- 
d an. Highly recommended. Bernard 
Gray, a composer of music, lives in a 
garret in Soho. Under his charge is a 
young girl in the ballet, whose mother 
had died when she was young. Hubert 
Gray, the brother of Bernard, rescues 
a wealthy old gentleman from an acci¬ 
dent, the latter eventually turning out 
to be the girl’s father. 


DRAMAS. 


Cape Mail. 1 Act. By Clement Scott. 
Time, 36 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Utility. 1 Old Woman; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Utility. The son of Mrs. Preston, an 
old blind lady, has been engaged in the 
Cape War, and news is brought of his 
death. The widow abstains from tell¬ 
ing the mother, fearing it might cause 
her death, and parties and concerts are 
indulged in as if nothing had hap¬ 
pened. The news of the son’s death 
finally proves to be false. 

Hard Struggle. 1 Act. By Westland 
Marston. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 15 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Juvenile (aged 13); 1 Old 

Woman; 1 Utility. Reuben Holt is 


betrothed to Lillian Trevor, whose life 
has been saved through the care of 
Fergus Graham, a surgeon, during a 
voyage. Lillian falls in love with Fer¬ 
gus, and Reuben, realising this, sacri¬ 
fices his own happiness to secure hers. 

My Aunt’s Husband. (Comic.) 1 
Act. By C. Selby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 44 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 
Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Capt. and Mrs. Touchwood 
have to conceal their marriage from 
Mr. and Mrs. Nettletop, as the latter 
would receive the benefit of an estate 
should Mrs. Touchwood prove to be 
married. The marriage is discovered, 
likewise a second will revoking the 
conditions of the first. 


FOUR MALES AND THREE FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Brother Bill and Me. 1 Act. By W. 
E. Suter. Modern Costume. Time, 46 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Light Comedian; 
1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A good low comedy 
farce originally played bv Mr. Too'e. 
Mr. A. Noodle mistakes the brother of 
his manservant for a gentleman, who 
pretended to save his watch from be¬ 
ing stolen, but who was a confederate. 
The brother, thinking it might be ad¬ 
vantageous to him, disowns the foot¬ 
man and adopts the confederate’s 
name, which leads him into sad diffi¬ 
culties. 

Bowled Out. 1 Act. By H. T. Craven. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Ezekiel Yearner, a hypocrite, imposes 
upon an old lady, Mrs. Brefton. who 
previously had her daughter stolen 
from her, and has now adopted 
Marion. Yearner wishes to marry 
Marion but he is bowded out by the 
maidservant, who pretends to be the 
long-lost daughter. 

Chanter of Accidents. 1 Act. By 
J. T. Douglas. Modern Costume. Time, 
85 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; T. 


Old Woman: 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambe maid. The plot is very similar 
to “ Wdio’s Who.” 

Charming Pair. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A gentle¬ 
man spends his time in arranging 
matches amongst his friends, and 
always invites himself spend a 
month with the happy couple, his 
board and lodging costing him nothing 
all the year round. He is eventua'ly 
engaged himself, and his friends all 
vow they will come and visit him. 

Clockmaker's Hat. 1 Act. Modern 

Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Chambermaids. Complications arise 
from a clockmaker leaving his hat in a 
room, and a husband believing it to 
be the property of someone secretly 
visiting his wife. The housemaid (who 
has the leading part) having broken the 
clock, tries to conceal the visit of th* 
clockmaker, and makes matters worse. 

Cousin Lambkin. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time. 35 
min. Scene, Interior Room at an Inn; 


60 


SEVEN CHARACTERS. 


1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 

1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Captain Bantam has fought a duel, and 
to escape arrest has assumed the name 
of Lambkin. Lambkin finds this out, 
and gets into difficulties through as¬ 
suming the name of Bantam. 

Cure for the Fidgets. 1 Act. By 
T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Lady Comedian* 1 Walking 
j Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Fearful com¬ 
plications occur through the servant of 
Mr. Finnikin Fussleton h'aving her 
soldier husband in the house, while 
Fussleton is away. Fussleton returns 
unexpectedly, and he is cured of ti e 
fidgets, an infirmity he suffers from. 

Did I Dream It? 1 Act. By J. P. 
Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man, 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 French Valet; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Relates the misfortunes of a 
gentleman who is continually mistak¬ 
ing his dreams for actual facts and 
vice versa. 

Doing the Hansom. 1 Act. By A. 

Harris. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Felix 
Pottinger is mistaken for the lover of 
Doctor Bumblepuppy’s daughter. He 
has left his money at an inn, and can¬ 
not pay the cabman. He makes 
several attempts to borrow, but his 
cousin arriving with £50 for him settles 
his dilemma. 

*An Englishman’s House is his 
■I own Castle. 1 Act. By J. M. 
\j Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
' min. 1 Interior Parlour Scene; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Treats on 
some complications which arise among 
the inmates of a lodging house. Good 
part for the landlord. 

Go to Putney. 1 Act. By H. Lemon. 
Modern Costume. Time. 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Old Woman. Mrs. Dallas and Mrs. 
Green live together at Putney. They 
both believe their husbands are dead. 
Mrs. Dallas falls in love Auth Reginald 
Tripos. Mrs. Green’s husband returns, 
and gets mistaken for the husband of 
Mrs. Dallas. 

Going to the Dogs. 1 Act. By W. 

Brough and A. Halliday. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman; 1 


Chambermaid. Describes the trouble 

caused by a stolen dog. Two dogs of 
a similar appearance would be re¬ 
quired. 

If I Had a Thousand a Year. 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. A gentle¬ 
man, who desires to have a thousand 
a year, is led into certain difficulties 
by his friend. 

Late Mr. Gastello. 3 Acts. By Syd¬ 
ney Grundy. Is. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout. 2 Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gertleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Captain Trefusis calls on Mrs. 
Beckeidyke for the purpose of renew¬ 
ing his acquaintance with her daugh¬ 
ter, Avice. He there meets her other 
daughter, Mrs. Castello, a young widow 
with whom he promptly falls in love. 
Mrs. Castello is an arrant flirt, makes 
fun of him, and it is only by him pre¬ 
tending that her late husband, a 
ferocious Portuguese/ who led her a 
wretched life, is still alive, that she is 
induced to accept the Captain’s ad¬ 
vances. 

Little Rebel. 1 Act. By J. Sterling 
Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 2 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Juvenile Lady (aged 16); 

1 Chambermaid. The two utility parts 
can be omitted. Describes the love 
affairs of a young lady sent home from 
school in disgrace. 

My Cousin. 1 Act. By J. James 

Hewson. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. John 
Perryble desires his son Tom to marry 
his cousin Clara. Tom arrives with a 
friend, George Pleedwell. He has 
already fallen in love with Rose Myrtle, 
but cannot discover her whereabouts, 
and unexpectedly meets her at his 
father’s house as a governess, and she 
proves to be his own cousin. George 
becomes engaged to Clara. 

My Lord in Livery. 1 Act. By S. 
Theyre Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; lBoy; 3 Walking Ladies. Lord 
Thirlmere, in order to win a bet that 
he will obtain a certain ring from the 
hand of Miss Sibyl Amberley, induces 
a new footman to change places with 
him. The young ladies of the house 
get +o hear of this scheme, and mis¬ 
take the new footman for Lord I’hirl- 
mere, while Lord Thirlmere is mis¬ 
taken for a burglar. Miss Sibyl give* 
up the ring, and implores that he* 
life may be spared. 


SETKJT CHARACTERS. 


61 


My Turn Next. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian: 1 Utility; 

2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
One of the best farces ever written, 
and has attained a popularity which is 
seldom reached. Taraxicum Twitters 
marries a widow, and he hears from 
various quarters that she has been 
known under the names of Mrs. Green 
of Gloucester, Mrs. White of Warwick, 
Mrs. Black of Banbury, while he 
married her under the name of Mrs. 
Brown of Bedford. He draws the con¬ 
clusion that she poisoned all these 
husbands, and that it will be his turn 
next. His agony is most amusingly 
described, but he is subsequently re¬ 
lieved on learning that his wife’s late 
husband travelled under _ the above 
names in order to baffle his creditors. 

My Wife’s Dentist. 1 Act. By T. E. 
Wilks. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Dick Hazard, escaping from 
a club raid, gets into Sir John Beau- 
ville’s drawing-room through the win¬ 
dow. Sir John is jealous, and mis¬ 
takes him for a secret lover of his 
wufe’s. He declares he is her dentist. 
Dick fortunately meets his old love, 
Cicely, in the house; he discloses him¬ 
self, and is invited to supper. 

My Wife’s Maid. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Boy; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Com¬ 
plications arise through Captain 
Cruncher lending Mrs. Whiffleton his 
wife’s maid, as her servant is ill. Mrs. 
Whiffleton’s daughter is engaged to 
Mr. Lysimachus Tootles, who has met 
this maid in the park dressed in her 
mistress’s clothes, and thought she 
was of illustrious parentage. They 
meet at Mrs. Whiffleton’s dinner 
party, and the Captain thinks that 
Tootles met his wife and not the maid. 

My Wife’s Second Floor. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Mrs. Fanny Topheavy 
leaves her apartments to meet her 
husband. These apartments are then 
let to Mr. Felix Toddle. The hus¬ 
band returns to them unexpectedly, 
and hears Toddles talk of Fanny (a 
lady to whom he is engaged). He 
imagines he is referring to his wife. 

Object of Interest. 1 Act. By J. 

H. Stocqueler. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes, the 
first of which can be omitted alto¬ 
gether, and the farce commence at 
Scene 2: 2 Old Men; 1 Light'Come¬ 
dian ; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Lady Come¬ 


dians; 1 Chambermaid. Fanny 
Gnibbles is trying on her mistress’s 
ring. The mistress enters, and the 
ring gets thrown out of the window. 
Fanny is afraid she will be prose¬ 
cuted. Mr. Primrose finds the ring, 
which is afterwards restored to the 
rightful owner. 

On and Off. 1 Act. By T. J. Wil¬ 
liams. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Utility. A middle- 
aged bachelor starts to meet a widow , 
at a picnic, but is prevented bv con- 
tinuous interruptions. A band out¬ 
side constantly plays the “ Power of 
Love,” which, being the widow's 
favourite air, is an agonising reminder 
of the picnic. 

Peace and Quiet. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Wa’king Lady: 1 
Chambermaid. A gentleman who de¬ 
sires peace and quiet, wishes to let his 
apartments, and is visited by an in¬ 
dividual with a cornet, who states 
that he wishes to establish private 
promenade concerts in the house. 

\ 

Pepperpot’s Little Pets. 1 Act. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, y 45 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 

I. ight Comedian; 1 Old Man: 2 Low 
Comedians: 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Pepperpot, 
an impetuous young soldier, returns 
from the wars. He falls in love with 
his cousin Jessie, and prevents her 
marriage with an objectionable suitor. 

Rifle and How to Use It. 1 Act 
By J. V. Bridgeman. Modern Costume. 
Time, 55 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians’ 1 Policeman: 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Two volunteers stay out late 
at night-, have arguments with their 
wives, and get irto trouble by firing 
at a lay figure belonging to a shop. 

Samuel in Search of Himself. 1 
Act. By J. Sterling Coyne and H. C. 
Coapa. Modern Ccstume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. Mr. Jona¬ 
than Dearlove is jealous of his wife’s 
previous lover, and gets his friend, 
Mr. Samuel Shirkington, to find out 
who he is. It turns out that Mr. 
Samuel Shirkington was the lover, and 
that he is searching for himself. 

Take Care of T>owb. 1 Act. By 

J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Garden Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Old Woman. Mr. Ramsay, 
a schoolmaster, undertakes to look 
after his old pupil Dowbiggin’s wife 


62 


SEVEN CHARACTERS 


during the latter’s absence, and mis¬ 
takes a lover of the wife’s sister fpr 
someone after the wife. Dowbiggin 
returns with Bamsay’s wife, which 
causes an imbroglio. 

Tale of a Comet. 1 Act. By F. L. 
Horne. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
gentleman, in order to obtain the hand 

' of a young lady, enters the house as a 
German astronomer, and intends to 
carry her off. The servant’s lover 
hides in the telescope, and spoils the 
astronomer’s plans. The uncle, how¬ 
ever, fearing to be laughed at, con¬ 
sents to their union. 

Ticklish Times. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Costume, period 1750. Time, 
48 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility and 
some supers; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mrs. 
Griggs allows Sir William Bamsay, 
a Jacobite leader, to assume the name 
of her husband, to protect him from 
the King’s soldiers. Trouble is caused 
when the real Mr. Griggs appears, but 
Sir William escapes. 

fimson’s Little Holiday. 1 Act. 
By Harry Nicholls. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Old 
Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 2 
Old Women; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Timothy Timson has imposed upon his 
benefactor, and made him believe he 
has a wife and family. The benefactor 
suddenly arrives as Timson is about to 
start for a holiday. In endeavouring to 
clear himself from his difficulties he 


makes matters worse, but is afterwards 
forgiven. 

Urgent Private Affairs. 1 Act. Bj 
J. T. Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 
2 Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
Major Polkinghorne and his wife 
quarrel. She goes to her friend, Mrs. 
Dotts, to meet her lawyer. The Major 
follows, and accuses Mr. Dotts of con¬ 
cealing her. He is afterwards recon¬ 
ciled to his wife. 

Wandering Minstrel. 1 Act. By H. 
Mayhew. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gen¬ 
tleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. It was in this p’ay 
that the late Mr. Bobson first sung 
the well-known song of “ Villikins and 
his Dinah.” Mrs. Crincum objects to 
her niece, Julia, marrying Herbert 
Carol. She hears that a nobleman is 
travelling under the disguise of a 
wandering minstrel. A vagabond, Jem 
Bags, appears, and is mistaken for the 
nobleman. Carol then disguises as a 
minstrel, and wins Julia. 

Who Stole the Pocketbook? 1 Act. 

By J. M. Morton. Time, 50 min. 
Modern Costume. Scene, Milliners’ 
Work Boom; 4 Low Comedians; 3 
Chambermaids. Tomkins Tipthorpe 
picks up a pocketbook. Benjamin 
Blossom calls, and Tipthorpe thinks 
he has come after it. It transpires the 
pocketbook belongs to Tipthorpe, 
being lost by the boy who had to de¬ 
liver it. 


COMEDIES 


Bubbles. 1 Act. By C. S. Fawcett. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 Waking 
Ladies. A very successful play, and 
can be highly recommended. Chris¬ 
topher Hogg, a retired pork butcher, 
has educated his son, Bob, who gets 
into the hands of a scheming Baronet, 
Sir Thingummy Tallboy. Bob is in¬ 
duced by this Baronet to speculate in 
a bubble company, which comes to 
grief. Christopher Hogg, however, is 
enabled to save his son, and expose the 
Baronet. 

Compromising Case. 1 Act. By 
Mrs. T. E. Smale. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Walking Lad : es; 1 
Chambermaid. Captain Fairfield has, 
previous to his marriage, carried on a 
flirtation with a lady who has since 
become the wife of a fire-eating 
General. He obtains his letter® from 


the lady in question, but they seem to 
get into everybody else’s hands in a 
most' compromising way, before they 
are finally destroyed. 

Dearest Mamma. 1 Act. By Walter 
Gordon. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Juvenile; 1 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Lady Comedians. A 
young married couple enjoying domes¬ 
tic felicity have their dearest mamma 
to stay with them. This lady’s pro¬ 
ceedings manage to disturb the 
equanimity that prevailed, and she is 
eventually induced to withdraw from 
under their roof. 

Dowager. l Act. By Charles 

Mathews. Powder Costume. Time, 80 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk’ng Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Co '^dian; 2 
Walking Ladies. One of the best 
powder plays. Lady Bloomer and 
Margaret are expecting the Dowager 
Countesn of Tresili&n, whom they 


SEVEN CHARACTERS 


68 


think an old lady of quiet habits. Sir 
Frederick Chasemore engages an 
actress to impersonate her, as a joke. 
Lady Bloomer and Margaret find this 
out, and when she arrives she has a 
lively time of it. It so happens that 
the real Countess and not the actress 
appears. 

Elopement. 2 Acts. By H. A. Jones. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Fritz Godney and Phil Raikes are 
staying at the “ Pear-tree ” for trout 
fishing. They form an attachment to 
the landlord’s tw r o daughters, Maggie 
and Selina. Fritz is about to elore 
with Maggie, and Phil, to further his 
own ends, contrives that Selina should 
take her place, which frustrates the de¬ 
signs of the runaways. Fritz, how¬ 
ever, hears of his uncle’s death, and, 
inheriting the property, matters are 
settled amicably. 

Fair Exchange. 1 Act. By M. 
Williams. Costume, 1676. Time, 44 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
2 Low Comed'ans; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comed'an; 1 Walking lady; 1 Utility. 
Lady Vane is beloved by the Farl of 
Dudley, and Babel Grey (her Foster 
Sister) by Dudley Dubkins, a gar¬ 
dener, who is usually knowm as Dud¬ 
ley. The interest of the niece is sus¬ 
tained by misunderstandings arising 
out of the actions of the two Dudleys. 
Flies in the Web. 3 Acts. By John 
Brougham. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Alice 
Devereaux has been jilted, and deter¬ 
mines to marry the first man she 
meets. This happens to be Paul Wel¬ 
don, who is poor, and they are married, 
she treating him coldly in order to be 
revenged. Mr. Foxglove falls in love 
with her and tries to separate them, 
but she gradually learns to love her 
husband, Mr. Foxglove’s plans being 
defeated. 

Holly Tree Inn. 1 Act. By Mrs. Oscar 
Beringer. Costume, 18th century. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Bov (originally played by a girl); 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Little Girl. There are two capital 
children’s parts in this play, which is 
an adaptation of Dickens’ familiar 
story. 

Home 3 Acts By T. W. Robertson. 
Is. Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 
1 Interior Scene throughout. 2 
Corned ans; 1 Walking Gentleman; 

1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 

2 Walking J a r1 i r s Having been 
estranged from his father fo* fifteen 


years, Alfred Dorrison returns unde* 
the same of Colonel White to dis¬ 
cover the old gentleman in the hands 
of a scoundrel named Captain Mount- 
raffe, who is endeavouring to arrange 
a match with his sister, Mrs. Pinch¬ 
beck. Mountrafie, not knowing the 
Colonel’s identity, imparts his plans in 
a confidential manner and states he, 
Mountrafie, is determined to marry 
Dora, a lady the Colonel is very 
much struck with. The Colonel then 
sets to work to prevent his father 
falling into the plot. He succeeds 
in this, not, however, until he has 
offended the old man and been for¬ 
bidden the house. 

Just My Luck. 1 Act. By A. Maltby. 

Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. I 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Mr. Crumpets is a mesmerist. He 
tries the servant as a medium. His 
initials being the same as the servant’s 
young man, causes his wife’s jealousy. 
His clothes get stolen, and he is 
obliged to wear a fisherman’s costume, 
and then gets assaulted by his 
daughter’s fiancee and the servant’s 
lover. 

Leading String's. 3 Acts. By A. C. 
Troughton. Modern Costume. Time. 
1 hour 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Old Man; 2 TTt' ny; 

1 Old Lady; 2 Walking Ladies. Frank 
Leveson is engaged to Edith Belfort, 
but his mother does not think it a de¬ 
sirable match, and wishes him to marry 
her niece, Flora. Frank then falls in 
love with Flora, and Edith preferring 
another suitor, leaves him free to 
marry her. 

Linked by Love. 3 Acts. By Paul 
Meritt. Modern Costume. Time, li 
hours. 2 Interior and 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking ladies; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Lucy Stead’s husband has de¬ 
serted her. She reads of his death, 
and marries Lionel Lombard, a 
widower. The husband returns, and 
endeavours to marry Lombard’s 
daughter, and keep Lucy silent. He 
is proved to have had a wife living 
when he married Lucy, thus legalising 
her union with Lionel. 

Married for Money. 3 Acts. By C. 
Matthews. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Mopus has married a widow much 
older than himself for her money. She 
has a daughter, Matilda, who wishes 
to marry Rob Royland, but Mrs. 
Mopus desires her to marry an elderly 

suitor, Sir Robert MeMowboy. Mr. 


64 


SEVEN CHARACTERS. 


Mopus ia the means of securing 
Matilda’s happiness, Sir Robert being 
defeated. 

More Precious than Gold. 2 Acts. 

By C. S. Cheltnam. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking G-entleman; 2 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Juvenile 
Lady; 1 Old Woman. Lord and Lady 
Lonsdale have quarrelled through the 
interference of the latter’s mother. 
They have been separated for 14 years, 
and are reconciled by their daughter. 

Music Hath Charms. 1 Act. By 
David Fisher. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Madame Mathilde de la Roche 
is about to be married to Adrian de 
Beauval. She has an eccentric first 
floor lodger, who is so persistent that 
he causes the engagement to be an- 
nul’ed, and he marries her himself. 

Nine Points of the Law. 1 Act. By 
Tom Taylor. Modern Costume. Time, 

1 hour 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 

Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 

Walking Gentleman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mrs. Smylie having received 
notice to quit her home, the means 
employed by her against the owner of 
her cottage, in order that she may re¬ 
main, is herein described. After ? n in¬ 
teresting scene she eventually marries 
the owner. 

Parvenu. Is. 6d. 3 Acts. By G. W. 
Godfrey. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 1 Exterior Scene 
throughout; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Light Comedians; 1 Lady Comedian; 

2 Walking Ladies. The estates of Sir 
Fulke Pettigrew and Mr. Ledger, M.P., 
a parvenu, adjoin. The former is in 
dire monetary straits, and the latter 
has a mortgage on his land. In order 
to prevent Ledger foreclosing, Petti¬ 
grew endeavours to arrange a marriage 
with him and his daughter. Ledger,, 
however, discovers the reason of the 
sudden affability of the family, wh^m 
he knows hate him, and is instrumental 
in marrying his daughter to Petti¬ 
grew’s nerhew. Gwendolen Pettigrew 
marries the man of her choice. 

Snowball. 3 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior Scene throughout; 

1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Felix Featherstone 
goes on the quiet to see a strongly- 
flavoured French play, and his wife 

DRAM 

Alone. 3 Acts. By J. P. Simpson and 
H. C. Merivale. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 45 min. 1 Exterior Scene 
throughout; 1 Old Man; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile 


and ward secretly go to the same place. 
Husband and wife see each other, but 
both fondly imagine they are not seen. 
From this incident family complica¬ 
tions arise. The “ Snowball ” is set 
rolling, and increases in size every act, 
until it becomes a difficulty to dispose 
of it. This is accomplished after the 
characters have undergone many droll 
experiences. 

Taming- the Truant. 3 Acts. By H. 

Wigan. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile 
Lead; 1 Low Cmnedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Utility. Another ver¬ 
sion played at the Criterion Theatre 
under the title of “ Butterfly Fever.” 
Mr. Flutter leaves his wife for a fort¬ 
night, and has various flirtations, and 
is brought to task by his wife’s young 
aunt, whom he mistakes for a maid¬ 
servant. 

Through the Fire. 1 Act. By W. 

Lestocq. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
Jack Wenlock is engaged to Daisy 
Lane. He is called away, and requests 
his friend, George Todd, to look after 
her. In the meantime George and 
Daisy discover they love each other. 
When Jack returns and sees how mat¬ 
ters stand, he generously joins their 
hands, and utters the customary prayer 
for their happiness. 

Tyranny of Tears. 4 Acts. By Had. 
don Chambers. Is. 6d. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2| hours. 1 Interior and 
1 Exterior Scene; 3 Comedians; L Old 
Man; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Parbury, a very distinguisned 
author, has married a woman who is 
enabled always to obtain her own way 
with him by resorting to tears. She 
comes upon the lady secretary unex¬ 
pectedly kissing his photograph. Mrs. 
Parbury demands the immediate dis- 
charge of the girl, and upon Parbury 
refusing, leaves the house in company 
with her father. They are reconciled 
by a third party, who marries the 
secretary. 

Uncle. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By H. J 
Byron. Modern Costume. Time’ 2i 
hours. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 * -kight Comedian; 

1 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Mr. Paul Beaumont, in con¬ 
sequence of his . marriage, fears his 
uncle will stop his allowance aud dis¬ 
inherit him The uncle suddenly ur- 
nves, and the means adopted to pre- 
vent the union being known cause in¬ 
tense farcical complications. 

AS. 

Gentleman; 1 Juvenile Lady; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Utility. An old man, who 
is alone in the world, his wife, when 
dying, saying that she never cared for 
him, and his daughter being enticed 


SEVEN CHARACTERS 


65 


•way from school and thought to be 
dead, has a young girl to live with him 
as companion. This girl finally proves 
to be his daughter. 

Fair Pretender. (Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By J. Palgrave Simpson. Costume, 
period James I. Time, 1 hour 24 min. 
2 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Utility. Lady Arabella Stuart, 
who was imprisoned by order of the 
King, escapes by the aid of her hus¬ 
band disguised as a pedlar, assisted by 
a former servant. 

Hen and Chickens. (Comic.) 2 

Acts. By H. B. Webster, junr. Is. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman' 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Sets 
forth the quarrels of a young married 
couple which are caused by the lady’s 
mother taking up her residence with 
them. The husband rebels, and suc¬ 
ceeds in getting hi3 mother-in-law to 
beat a hasty retreat. 

Hold Your Tongue. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By J. R. Planche. Costume, period 
1780. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian: 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Lady Ryder goes to a mas¬ 
querade ball during her husband’s ab¬ 
sence and unknown to him. She ar¬ 
ranges for a meeting with Captain Ver¬ 
non, the husband returns and finds 
this out, and Mrs. Lovejoy, Lady 
Ryder’s friend, makes out the meeting 
was with her. 

Holly Tree Inn. See MS. plays. 

Lady Audley’s Secret. 2 Acts. By 
C. H. Hazlewood. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 15 min. 2 Interior, 2 
Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian: 1 Lady Tragedian; 1 

Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid and 
Supers. An adaptation of Miss Brad- 
don’s well-known novel. 

My Wife’s Mother. (Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By Charles Mathews. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 64 min. 1 Interior 
Scene, which remains both acts; 1 
Old Man; 1 Light Cr.vnedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman' 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Lady 
Comedian. Mr. and Mrs. Bud a’e a 
newly-married couple. Mrs. Bud’s 
mother arrives to stay with them, and 
immediately proceeds to upset the 
household. Harmony is not restored 
until she departs, intimating that she 
is about to marry again. 

Old Trusty. (Comic.) 1 Act. By W. 
Gordon. Modern Costume. Time, 48 
min. 1 Drawing-room Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Juvenile; \ Old Man; 1 Low 
D 


Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid; 1 Walking Lady. Good 
part for Old Man. Shows the for¬ 
tunes of an old and trusted servant 
with the younger branches of a family 
after his master’s death. 

Second Love. (Comic.) 8 Acts. By 
J. P. Simpson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 45 min. 1 Garden and 
2 Room Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Colonel Dangerfield 
is engaged to Mildred Vernon, but 
hearing that Elinor Mowbray has been 
left her uncle’s property, he jilts Mil¬ 
dred and becomes engaged to Elinor. 
By a second will the property is left to 
Ralph Thornhill on condition that 
he marries Elinor. These two become 
engaged after the Colonel has been ex¬ 
posed. 

Shadows of the Past. (Comedy- 
Drama.) 2 Acts. By J. P. Simpson. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; \ 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid: 1 
Walking Lady. Sir Trafford Clive 
and Lady Clive are happily married. 
Unknown to her husband, she has • 
daughter by a former marriage which 
proved to be illegal. He finds this out, 
and generously announces to the 
world that it is his own child. 
Spring; and Autumn. (Comic.) 2 
Acts. Adapted by James Kenney. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 
min. 2 Interior Scenes: 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 Old 
Women; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Rattle, a gay young fellow, has mar¬ 
ried an elderly dictatorial woman for 
her money. She gets jealous of him, 
and he retaliates, and resolves to be 
master. 

Take that Girl Away. (Comic.) 2 
Acts. By L. S. Buckingham. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 40 min. 2 
In’^rior Scenes; Drawing-room and 
Studio; 1 Old Man: 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Rocket, 
an artist, enters Mr. Poddle’s room, 
carries off one of his daughters, then 
thinks he prefers another daugnit*, 
and_ Mr. Poddle continually enantfv* 
their names at the registry office. 
Young: Mother. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
Charles Selby. Modern Gosttuu*. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; i 
Light Comedian; 1 Juvenile -bead' • 
Youth (aged 12); 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Cham* 
bermaid. Angelina Melrose is tna 
means of supporting her orpmin 
brothers and sisters. Her brother 
Frank attempts to rob her, but hia 
better nature prevails, and he is 
from ruin by a friend. 


66 


SEVEN CHARACTERS 


FIVE MALES AND TWO FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Breach of Promise. 2 Acts. By T. 
W. Robertson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Old Men; 1 Utility; 1 Chambermaid; 
1 Walking Lady. Philip has pro¬ 
mised to marry Honoria Molloy. He 
is afterwaids desirous of marrying 
Clementina Ponticopp. He enters 
Honoria’s apartment with Achates 
Croople to find his letter offering her 
marriage. His search is fruitless, and, 
making a tool of Achates, he affects 
jealousy. Philip is about to marry 
Clement na, but Honoria prevents the 
wedding by inducing Clementina’s 
father to believe there is insanity in 
the family. By these means she gets 
the hand of the truant Philip, while 
Achates carries off Clementina. 

But However. 1 Act. By H. May- 

hew and H. Baylis. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. The principal character has a 
peculiar knack of story telling, and 
introducing the words, “ But however,” 
in every speech. 

Davenport Bros, and Co. 1 Act. 

By T. E. Pemberton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 48 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

1 Walking Lady. An old lady who 
never receives gentlemen has her niece 
staying with her. She advertises for 
her lost purse, and her niece’s lovers 
both come under the name of Capt. 
Davenport, and each states he has 
found the money and not the purse. 

Dead Shot. 1 Act. By J. B. Buck- 

stone. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Low Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. The policeman can be 
omitted. An uncle wishes his niece to 
choose a husband between two gentle¬ 
men he has selected for her. She, 
however, has made her own choice 
elsewhere, and with the assistance of 
her maid and her lover she manages 
to terrify the two selected suitors, and 
follow her own inclinations. 

Easy Shaving:. 1 Act. By F. C. 
Burnand and Montague Willi*--* 
tume, Period Charles II. Time, 85 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

2 Low Comedians; 2 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Ninette 
keeps a shaving shop. She has saved 
the 1 ife ot tlit ivmg, ana lui. Uo u a-.m 
becomes happily engaged 


Faithful James. 1 Act By B. G. 

Stephenson. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 2 Walking 
Ladies. This is one of the famous 
triple bill pieces played with the "Pan¬ 
tomime Rehearsal.” Mr. and Mrs. 
Duncan have quarrelled, and Admiral 
Vincent, an irascible old uncle, has 
made Mrs. Duncan promise not to for¬ 
give her husband, and has taken rooms 
for her in an hotel. Mrs. Duncan 
relents, and seeks an interview with 
her husband, unknown to the Admiral, 
and enlists the services of James, the 
waiter. A Mr. and Mrs. Melville are 
introduced in the scene, who get mixed 
up by James with Mr. and Mrs. Dun¬ 
can in a most chaotic manner, but a 
simple statement of the truth clears 
the air. 

He Lies like Truth. 1 Act. By F. 

Kempton. Modern Costume. Time, 
60 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 
1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Illustrates the vagaries of a 
certain gentleman who is perpetually 
telling falsehoods which somehow coma 
true. 

Home, Sweet Home, with Varia> 

tio-ns. 3 Acts. By Herbert Swears. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 
Interior Scene throughout; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; I Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
During the absence abroad of Mr. 
Brinklow, his butler, William Dott, 
lets the house for two months. While 
in Paris Mr. Brinklow has been forced 
to jo : n a secret society for exterminat¬ 
ing the crowned heads of Europe. He 
escapes to England, and mistakes the 
strangers in his house for Anarchists. 

How Stout you’re Getting;. 1 Act. 

By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. Parlour Scene; 2 l ow 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Plummy 
lesorts to various devices; to reduce his 
weight. 

I’ll Write to the Times. 1 Act. By 
J. P. Wood. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Inter or 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 2 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
An old s'pntlenian threatens " to write 
to the ‘ T , ’ r n«q * ” on every conce : vabl® 
annoyance which comes in his way. 


•BYEN CHARACTERS. 


67 


John Dobbs. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time. 40 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian: 1 Utility; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Mr. John Dobbs captivates a widow 
who had refused him previous to her 
marriage, and did not afterwards 
identify him. 

King- and I. 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 
Costume, period 1691. Time, 68 min. 
1 Street Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Utility; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
The principal fun in this piece is made 
by the low comedian mistaking Sir 
William Melrose for King William 
HI. 

Lend Me Five Shillings. 1 Act. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time. 
1 hour. 1 Interior Scene: 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 
and some Supers. Splendid part for 
light comedian. Mr. Golightly loses 
his money at a public ball, and is un¬ 
able to obtain the loan of five shillings 
from anybody. Mr. Jefferson played 
the part with great success. 

Lot 4 9. 1 Act. By W. J. Fisher. 

Modern Costume. Time, 40 mm. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 4 Low Comedians; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. “Lot 49” is 
a dog which Mrs. Newlove has com¬ 
missioned a friend to buy at a sale, 
unknown to her husband. Mr. New¬ 
love, to surprise his wife, instructs 
someone else to bid for it. The con¬ 
sequence is the dog is knocked down 
for £40. This leads to much contro¬ 
versy and farcical situations before a 
merry conclusion is arrived at. 

Mad as a Hatter. 1 Act. By 
Francis A. Marshall. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 48 min. 1 Interior 

Scene; 3 Old Men; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady; J Chambermaid. A nephew 

whose father has written about him 
as his “ mad son ” visits his uncle, and 
the reception he gets leads hjm to 
believe the family are mad, and they 
think likewise of him. He manages 
afterwards to get engaged to the 
uncle’s daughter. 

Mudborough Election. 1 Act. By 

W. Brough and A. Halliday. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. A waiter 
at an inn is induced to become a rival 
candidate at an election in order to 
stimulate the consumption of the 
landlord’s stores. He is unmasked by 
a widow and waitress, to both of whom 
he had proposed marriage. 

My Bachelor Days. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton Modern Costume. Time, 
D 2 


30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 2 Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

1 Walking Lady. Mr. Christopher 
Peckover has a young wife, and he 
boasts how he flirted with married 
ladies in his bachelor days. The 
tables are turned on him by others, 
following his example, making love to 
his own wife 

Pacha of Pimlico. 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. Modern and Turkish Cos- 
t lines. Time. 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Low Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Walking Lady. Brown gees 
to Constantinople to purchase piees, 
but instead acquires a Georgian slave, 
who proves to be an English woman, 
and she thinks him a Pacha. On ar¬ 
riving in London she unexpectedly 
meets her lover, and Brown, in order 
to keep peace with his own fiancee, in¬ 
timates that he purchased the lady to 
restore her to liberty. 

Patter v. Clatter. 1 Act. By C. 

Mathews. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Light 
Comedian; and 6 Utility. This is 
purely a one part piece, played with 
great success by Mr. Mathews. Mr. 
Patter, in order to secure the object of 
his affection, enters the house of the 
lady’s father and assumes various dis¬ 
guises. He receives news that he has 
won a famous law suit by which he 
inherits a fortune, and is then an ac¬ 
cepted suitor. 

Plots for Petticoats. 1 Act. By J. 

Wooler. Modem Costume. Time, 35 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 

2 Comedians; 2 Utility; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Harry Atherton is in love 
with Caroline Grayling, but her father 
wishes her to marry an American, so 
Frank Finish. Harry’s friend, drrsses 
up as the American, and ihey belli 
visit the house. They get found cut, 
as a telegram arrives stating that the 
American has married somebody else. 
The father's consent is then obtained. 

Sam’s Arrival. 1 Act. By J. Oxen- 
ford. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; - Low Comedians; 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman. Bella is to receive a legacy 
of £50 on condition that she marries 
Lord Dundreary’s brother Sam. Her 
lover passes thimself off as this person¬ 
age, but the real Sam arriving causes 
many complications. Lprd Dundreary, 
who is Bella’s guardian, then com¬ 
promises the matter. 

Slasher and Crasher, l Act. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. Room Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; I 
Walking Lady. Mr. Blowhard refuse* 
his consent to the union of his niece 


68 


•EVEN 1 CHARACTERS, 


and sister to Slasher and Crasher, 
having heard they refused to retaliate 
after being insulted. The tables are 
eventually turned on Mr. Blowhard in 
a most amusing manner, and he is 
forced to consent to their marriage. 

Smoked Miser. 1 Act. By D. Jer- 
rold. Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 
Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A miser’s 
fears are played upon, and he has to 
consent to his ward’s marriage with 
her lover. 

Southerner, Just Arrived. 1 Act. 

By H. Wigan. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Felix Foister, after 
hiding in the chimney of the house of 
the father of the lady he is destined 
to marry, gets mistaken for an escaped 
slave, whom the short-sighted father 
is expecting. 

Spectre Bridegroom, or a Ghost 
in Spite of Himself. 2 Acts. By 
W. T. Moncrieff. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 15 min. 3 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Low 
Comedians; 2 Walking Ladies. Gaspar 
Nicodemus has died suddenly on his 
way to Squire Aldwinkle, whose 
daughter he was about to marry. His 
cousin calls to announce his decease, 
and being very much like him is mis¬ 
taken for his ghost. 

State Secrets, or the Tailor of 
Tam worth. 1 Act. By T. E. Wilkes. 
Costume, period 1640. Time, 50 min. 

1 Exterior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 


Old Man; 1 Low Comedian: 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; and Supers. A tailor obtains 
a suit of clothes which is supposed to 
contain some State Secrets. He gets 
a good price for the breeches, waist¬ 
coat, and coat from three different 
purchasers, who are all sold, the 
papers being hidden in a cap, and 
have been previously restored to the 
owner. 

Up in the World. 1 Act. By J. 

Worthington. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. A man who has risen in the 
world, a.nd wishing to keep up appear¬ 
ances. is visited by his brother and 
his wife, who are greengrocers in the 
New Cut. The behaviour of these 
people before Lord Lonelydale is very 
amusing. 

Upstairs and Downstairs. 1 Act. 

By W. Brough and A. Halliday. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid ; 1 Walking Lady. A master is 
determined to abolish tips and per¬ 
quisites from tradesmen amongst his 
servants. His plan and how he suc¬ 
ceeds is herein described. 

Your Vote and Interest. 1 Act. By 
A. Maltby. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Boys; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
country yokel is thought to have come 
into an estate, and the manner his vote 
and interest are solicited is very 
comical. 


COMEDIES 


Hopeless Passion. 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton. Period, 1702. Spanish 
Costume. 1 Scene, a handsomely 
decorated ante-chamber. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Donna Beatrix de Sandoval, 
in order to secure her lover, Gaston de 
Courville, pretends to have the utmost 
contempt for him. The plan succeeds, 
the Court all the while imagining 
Gaston’s love to be hopeless. 
Jeweller of St. James’s. 3 Acts. 
By W. E. Suter. Costume, 1750. Time, 
2 hours. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
2 Comedians; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 
1 Lady Comedian. Bernard, a jeweller, 
has fallen desperately in love with 
Lady Dearmont. He gets invited to 
her ball through the introduction of a 
"Viscount to whom he has lent money. 
L»dy Dearmont returns his love, and 


he being of noble descent, they be¬ 
come engaged. 

Ladies’ Battle. 3 Acts. By T. W. 

Bobertson. Period, 1816. 1 interior 

Saloon Scene, which remains through¬ 
out the play. Time, 1 hour 40 min. 
1 Tragedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Wa king 
Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Trage¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Henri de 
Flavigneul has been condemned to 
death. The Countess d’Autreval has 
fallen in love with him, and he is em¬ 
ployed in her chateau as a servant in 
disburse. The Baron de Montrichard 
arrives to arrest him, and 1 his identity 
is. almost disclosed by the Countess’s 
niece, who is also in love with him. 
The Countess causes an admirer of 
hers to be arrested for Henri, but the 
latter hearing of this refuses to escape, 
and an amnesty arriving causes further 
proceedings unnecessary. 

Out of the Fryingr-pan. 1 Act. By 
A. P. Graves. Modern Costume. Time, 


•EVEN CHARACTERS 


48 min. 1 Inferior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Comedian; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 
1 Old Woman. Ida Wentworth dresses 
in male attire to meet Sir Jacob 
Fluff, who desires her hand in mar¬ 
riage. in order to ray off a grudge 
against Captain Sterling, he induces 
Ida (thinking she is a man) to dress 
in female attire and fascinate the Cap¬ 
tain. The latter, however, happens to 


be Ida’s lover, and Sir Jacob gets out 
of the difficulty the best way he can. 

Rival Pages. 1 Act. By C. Selby. 
Costumes, period 1625. Time, 40 min. 
2 Interior Tent Scenes; 2 Comedians; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Two young ladies, in love 
with a marquis, both go to the camp 
disguised as the marquis’s pages. The 
king finding it out, orders him to 
marry one of them. 


DRAMAS 


t jld Acquaintance. (Comedy 
‘ Drama.) 1 Act. By J. J. Dilley. 
Modern Costume. Time. 1 hour. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman: 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. A misunder¬ 
standing occurs between a husband 
and wife, it being the husband’s 
second marriage and his wife an luld 
acquaintance. 

Cabinet Question. (Comic.) 1 Act. 
By J. R. Planche. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene: Up¬ 
holsterer’s Shop; 1 Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Sir Beaumont Cressy is en¬ 
joying property which should really 
belong to his cousin, Lionel Manvers, 
owing to a missing will. This will is 
afterwards found in the secret drawer 
of a celebrated cabinet. 

Chimney Corner. 2 Acts. By H. T. 
Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 40 min. 1 Interior Scene through¬ 
out; 1 Old Man (aged 91); 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. One 
of the best domestic dramas ever writ¬ 
ten, and is always played with great 
success. Solomon Probity, a childish 
old man, secretes a cash-box in a 
chimney, and his grandson is accused 
of stealing the money. 

Clock on the Stairs. 1 Act. By C. 
H. Hazlewood. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Tragedian; 3 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. A man marries a rich widow 
for her money. He afterwards dis¬ 
covers the widow’s son is heir to the 
property, and being embarrassed he 
endeavours to poison the son, and 
accuses a poor governess of the crime. 
He fails in the attempt, and is dis¬ 
covered to have another wife already 
living. 

Dream of Delusion. 1 Act. By J. 
P. Simpson. Modern Costume. Time, 

1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Certain means are em¬ 
ployed by a doctor to bring back the 


reason of a husband who is labouring 
under the delusion that he has killed 
a rival. 

Hearts of Oak. 2 Acts. By H. A. 
Jones. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old 
Men; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 

dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Ned Devenish is in love with 
Kitty Pretts'john. He squanders away 
all his money, and Kitty’s father and 
mother (against her wish) make her 
promise to give him up, and he en¬ 
lists for a soldier. Mr. Cornelius, hav¬ 
ing bought Ned’s house, is paying his 
addresses to Kitty, and she is about to 
accept him to save her father from 
ruin, when Ned returns, and being en¬ 
abled to obtain £4,000 which has been 
secreted for him by his uncle, he is 
re-united to Kitty. 

Highland Legacy. 1 Act. By Bran¬ 
don Thomas. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Scotch 
Character; 1 Old Man; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Gordon McDonnel is hard up 
when he is visited by Tammy Tamson, 
a Highland servant, who announces 
that his master, Gordon’s uncle, has 
died leaving him property value £30 a 
year, and this Highland servant to 
keep, thus making him poorer than 
ever. Tammy, however, happens to be 
the uncle in disguise, seeking to know 
his nephew’s character, and is enabled 
to relieve him of his difficulties. 

Little Daisy. (Comic.) 1 Act. By T. 

J. Williams. Costume, Oliver Crom¬ 
well. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 

1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Juvenile Lady. Daisy 
conceals the Princess Elizabeth from 
the Protector’s troops, who are headed 
by her cousin Mark. The fugitive’s 
escape is effected through Daisy im¬ 
personating the Princess, and on being 
captured discloses herself and marries 
her cousin. 

Little Mother. (Comic.) 2 Acts. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time. 1 hour 20 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 


ro 


SEVEN CHARACTERS 


Walking Lady. Little Mother is the 
nickname of Kitty Clark, who comes 
to London to visit her sister Fanny, 
who is engaged to Christopher Double- 
prong, whose father does everything in 
his power to break off the match. 
Kitty not only puts everything right, 
but finds a husband for herself in 
Christopher’s friend. Frank Singleton. 

Miriam’s Crime. 3 Acts. By H. T. 
Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Tragedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman. Miriam West 
finds a will leaving her some property. 
She loves Bernard Reynolds, but he 
informs her he loves another. Miriam 
then destroys the will, as she thinks 
Bernard would thus come into the pro¬ 
perty, and thus secure his happiness. 
A scoundrel named Scrumley proves he 
is the next-of-kin, but a previous will 
is found leaving everything to Ber¬ 
nard, who, being discarded by the girl 
he at first desired, becomes engaged 
to Miriam. 

Miser. 1 Act. By Julian Cross. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen: 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Gabriel 
Brandon, an old man is heartbroken 
at the supposed loss of his son, Philip. 
He is reputed to be a miser, and has 
a spendthrift nephew, who, in order 
to obtain possession of his money, in¬ 
duces two doctors to certify to the old 
man’s lunacy. The son returns and 
defeats the nephew. 

Momentous Question. 2 Acts. By 
E. Fitzball. Peasant Costumes. Time, 
1 hour. 3 Interior. 2 Exterior Scenes; 
1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid, and some 
supers. Rachel Ryland is loved by a 
gamekeeper and a poacher. She pre¬ 
fers the latter, but marries the former 
to save the poacher’s life. The 
poacher turns smuggler, and is killed 
in an encounter with the constables. 

Nothing; Venture, Nothing; Win. 

(Comic.) 2 Acts. By J. S. Coyne. 
Costume, 1703. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian: 1 Corned an; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. The 

Countess Beauvilliers is determined to 
marry a hero, and sets her affections 
ufion the Marquis de Yigneul, whom 
she has not seen. A disappointed 
lover introduces the Chevalier de 
Launnay to her as the marquis. She 
discovers the deception, but marries 
the Chevalier after he has performed 
a heroic deed. 

Old Honesty. (Comic.) 2 Acts. By 
J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 


2 hours 10 min. 2 Interior Scenes; t 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. An old 
man, commonly known as “ Old 
Honesty,” while making some repairs 
in a wall, discovers a hidden box con 
taining gold and notes. He takes it 
home, and herein is described the 
effect it has on his conscience, and the 
consequences. 

Old Phil’s Birthday. 2 Acts. By J. 

P. Wooler. Costume, 1750. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 2 
Walking Ladies. The family of Har- 
dress and Co. are commemova . mg the 
birthday of their old servant. Phil. 
Frank Hardress has stolen £200 from 
his father’s safe, and Old Phil’s son is 
accused of the robbery. His innocence 
is at length established, and he marries 
Hardress’s daughter. 

Painter of Ghent. 1 Act. By W 

Jerrold. Old-fashioned Costume. Time. 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Old 
Men; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Child. A father, thinking 
his child dead, is overpowered with 
grief. This is changed to joy when 
the child is eventually restored to him. 

Retribution. 4 Acts. By Tom Taylor 
Fashionable French Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 Interior 
■scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady, and a 
few supers. Rodolphe has been deeply 
wronged by Oscar de Beaupre, and 
determines to have revenge. Oscar 
kills Rodolphe’s brother in a duel, but 
is himself slain by Rodolphe after¬ 
wards. 

Roundhead (The). 3 Acts. By Ber 
nard F. Bussy and W. T. Blackmore. 
Costume, 1651. Time, 2 hours. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene throughout; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian- 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian: 1 Chambermaid. Colonel R. 
Leighton, a Roundhead, 60 years of 
age. has married a young wife, Con¬ 
stance. A former lover, Archibald 
Warrington, a Royalist, fleeing from 
Cromwell s troops, takes refuge at 
their house. He obtains protection, 
and returns this kindness by continu¬ 
ing his attentions to Constance, and 
so preys upon her weak nature that 
she consents to elope, but is recalled 
to her senses by her husband attempt- 
mg to commit suicide. In the last 
act the Colonel spares his rival, who 
meets his death in attempting to es¬ 
cape. 

Sharp Practice. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
J. Lunn. Costume, period 1790. Time, 
50 min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes;’ 

3 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 2 Walking 


SEVEN CHARACTERS. 


71 


Ladies. A father makes a marriage 
settlement to his two sons-in-law on 
condition that each have to keep him 
for six months, one commencing on 
the 1st March, and the other ending 
28th Feb. The action of this farce 
takes place in Leap Year, on the 29th 
Feb., on which day neither of the 
sons will take him in. 

Wicked Wife. 1 Act. By John Court¬ 
ney. Costume, 1794. Time, 40 min. 


Scene: 1 Interior, with practical cup¬ 
board; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Child. The action occurs dur¬ 
ing the Revolution at Paris. A lady 
conceals her husband from his ene¬ 
mies, and pretends to adopt the Re¬ 
volutionists’ cause. The husband is at 
length discovered, but fortunately at 
the time of the overthrow of the Re¬ 
volutionists and triumph of the Royal¬ 
ists. 


SIX MALES AND ONE FEMALE 
FARCES. 


Diamond Cut Diamond. 1 Act. By 
H. H. Murray. Modern Costume. 
Time, 32 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 2 Light Comedians; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady. A young lady has two lovers, 
and she cannot decide between them. 
The humour of the farce is maintained 
by the two lovers adopting the same 
tactics in order to get rid of each 
other. Their two servants are also 
introduced, and each is bribed by the 
other’s master. 

Family Failing;. 1 Act. By John 
Oxenford. Period. Charles II. Time, 
1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Sir Sampson Silliman and his daugh¬ 
ter, Clorinda, both suffer from the 
family failing in losing their temper. 
He wants her to marry Sir Folliott 
Duckworth, and she wants to marry 
Lord Gawkey. The daughter finally 
has her own way. 

Hunting; a Turtle. 1 Act. By C. 
Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 60 
min 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Light Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 

2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. Mr. 
and Mrs. Turtle receive a visit from 
Mr. Levison, a former bachelor ac¬ 
quaintance. They wish to get rid of 
him, but he wishes to stay, and they 
adopt various disguises and endeavour 


to deceive each other before they get 
him to depart. 

Thrice Married. 1 Act. By Howard 
Paul. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

3 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Old Men; 1 
Lady Comedian. Mr. Vivian White 
manages to get money from two uncles 
through various deceptions. The 
uncles arrive on the scene, and he is 
extricated from his dilemma by the 
lady lodging in the next room, who 
impersonates different characters to 
bamboozle the uncles. 

Turkish Bath. 1 Act. By M. Wil¬ 
liams and F. C. Burnand. Turkish 
and Modern Costumes. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 3 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady. Scene a little com¬ 
plicated. Shows the adventures of two 
novices who set up a Turkish Bath. 
These two parts were originally acted 
by Messrs. Toole and Bedford. 

Turned Head. 1 Act. By G. A. 
A’Beckett. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. An obstinate old gentleman 
objects to his son marrying the lady 
of his choice. The son enters a private 
lunatic asylum, and shams madness 
until his father consents to his mar¬ 
riage. 


COMEDIES. 


Better Half. 1 Act. By T. J. Williams 
Modern Costume. Time, 48 mm. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. Mrs. 
Manley transacts all her husband s 
business. Squire Bramble arrives and 
makes Mr. Manley attend to affairs 
himself. The result is a failure and 
he is glad to have his wife’s assistance 
again. 


Brigands of Calabria. 1 Act. 

Italian Costume. Time, 60 mm. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 1 Low Comedian, 1 
Tragedian; 1 Comedian; 2 Utility; l 


Juvenile Lady. The bride of a young 
officer having been stolen, he goes to 
seek her, and falls into the hands of 
brigands, in whose cave he meets the 
object of his search. The brigands 
being captured he is ultimately re¬ 
leased. 

Peter Smink. 1 Act. By J. H. Payne. 

French Costume. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Dutchman; 
1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Chevalier Bayard disguises as a 
miller’s man, and assumes the name 
of Peter Smink. A man named Peter 
Smink is expected at a mill, and the 
one gets mistaken for the other. 


72 


EIGHT CHARACTERS 


EIGHT CHARACTERS 

THREE MALES AND FIVE FEMALES, 
FARCES. 


Afarming Sacrifice. 1 Act. By J. 

B. Buckstone. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Old Woman; 3 Walking 
Ladies. An uncle having died intes¬ 
tate, everybody believed he would 
leave his property to his maidservant. 
A harum-scarum nephew claims the 
estate, and immediately begins to lead 
a high life. A will is at Hst found, 
by which the servant is left the pro¬ 
perty. She, in her turn, engages the 
nephew as her servant, and makes him 
wait upon her. The nephew finally 
promises reform, and marries her. 

Domestic Economy. 1 Act. By 
Mark I.emon. Bustic Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Boy; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Utility Old Women; 
2 Little Girls. This is a first-rate 
farce, abounding in mirth, and having 
a good moral attached to it. It de¬ 
scribes the difficulties of a husband 
who undertakes to do his wife’s duty. 
A most suitable play for a village 
audience. 


Game of Romps. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Time, 40 min. Powder Cos¬ 
tume, but not necessarily so. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 3 Walking Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A boisterous scene, where 
some young ladies induce a tutor to 
play a “Game of Romps,” during the 
absence of the lady of the house, in 
order to bring about the engagement 
of two lovers. 


Jolliboy’s Woes. 1 Act. By C. S. 

Fawcett. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 5 Walking Ladies. Jolliboy, 
having become a Mormon, arrives at an 
hotel with his four wives. His friend 
Gunter, who has had a disagreement 
with his wife, calls on Jolliboy, and, 
witnessing the woes of the latter, at 
once seeks a reconciliation. 


COMEDIES 


Last of tho Pigtails. 1 Act. By 

Charles Selby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Comedian; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Utility. Sir 
Noah Starchington, a gentleman of the 
old school, in knee-breeches and a pig¬ 
tail. marries a modern belle, who im¬ 
mediately turns all her husband’s old- 
fashioned notions and those of his 
domestics to jest and ridicule. Sir 
Noah is conquered, and becomes a 
staunch convert to modern principles. 

Who’s to Win Him? 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 


50 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Juvenile Leading Lady; 4 
Walking Ladies. Squire Brushleigh 
resides at a primitive country seat, 
with his daughter Rose and threa 
nieces. He is visited by Cyril Dash- 
wood, and the question among the 
young ladies, is who’s to win him? 
The nieces, with their friend, a young 
lady fond of flirting, do all they can 
to make him propose to them; but the 
gentleman selects the daughter Rose, 
who has held back with maidenly re¬ 
serve. 


FOUR MALES AND FOUR FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Soots at the Swan. 1 Act. By 

Charles Selby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 


bermaid; 1 Utility. Miss Cecilia 
Moonshine will not consent to her sis¬ 
ter’s marriage with Henry Higgins on 
account of his name. Frank Frisky, a 
friend of Henry’s, enters Cecilia’* 
bouse as an escaped convict, also tha 


BIGHT CHARACTERS 


73 


Boots at the Swan as a policeman, 
and so frightens Cecilia that at last 
her consent is obtained. 

Family Pictures. 1 Act. By E. Stir¬ 
ling. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man* 1 Boy; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A lady 
would have to assume male attire. 
Major Osborne and his friend Harry 
Knowles adopt disguises as models, in 
order to get into the house of the 
objects of their choice, whose aunt, 
being a votary of the arts, they 
thoroughly deceive. 

Going; to the Derby. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 55 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 4 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Chambermaids; 2 Old 
Women; and some supers. Mr. Jere¬ 
miah Twiddle makes out to his wife 
that he is going to visit his aunt at 
Windsor, whereas he goes to the Derby 
with a friend. The wife follows dis¬ 
guised as a gipsy and bowls him out. 

Matrimonial Agency. 1 Act. By 
Charlotte E. Morland. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Miss Diana 
Poppincourt has advertised for a hus¬ 


band, and a nervous little man, Mr. 
Ponsonby Funkleton, visits her in 
reply. Her niece and friend have also 
inserted an advertisement for a joke, 
and they appear on the scene with 
their suitors. Funkleton is hidden in 
an ottoman. Miss Diana is indignant, 
and everything is exposed. 

My Precious Betsy. 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. Room Scene; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. Mr. 
Bobtail designates his wife as his 
precious Betsy. His wife is left a 
large sum of money by a doctor, and 
Mrs. Wagtail, a talkative neighbour, 
excites Mr. Bobtail’s jealousy, which 
puts him in an absurd position, and 
he has to ask .forgiveness. 

Quiet Family. 1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 

Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 3 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 3 Chamber¬ 
maids; 1 Walking Lady. Two hus¬ 
bands of totally different dispositions 
are married to ladies with a like pro¬ 
pensity. One husband domineers over 
his wife, and the other wife rules her 
husband, and great amusement is 
created by their respective peculiari¬ 
ties. 


COMEDIES 


Crossed Love. 1 Act. By H. Wol- 
verson. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bullfinch discover that their son 
and daughter have lovers, so they ad¬ 
vertise for a tutor and governess to 
watch them. The lovers themselves 
arrive in answer to the advertisement, 
and are enabled to bring their wooing 
to a successful termination. 

How Will They Get Out of It? 3 
Acts. By A. Sketchley. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 5 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
2 Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Old Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady. Henry Egerton and 
Alice Oldfield have eloped, and arrive 
home to be forgiven. Henry has been 
married before, and thought his first 
wife was drowned at sea, but hears to 
his dismay she was saved. It trans¬ 
pires that it was another lady of the 
Bame name who escaped. 


Little Treasure. 2 Acts. By A. 

Harris. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Juvenile Lady (aged 161; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Utility. A husband 
and wife are reconciled by their 
daughter, after a seraration for 12 
years. Good part for the juvenile lady. 
The second scene is usually altered, 
when the piece can be played by 4 
Gentlemen and 4 Ladies, and one 
scene throughout. 


Simpson and Co. 1 Act. By John 

Poole. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 10 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 3 Lady Comedians; 1 French¬ 
woman. Simpson and his partner re¬ 
side with their wives at their business 
in Mincing-lane, and the sedate Mr. 
Simpson is accused of the peccadilloes 
of his volatile partner. 


DRAMAS. 


Handsome Husband. (Comic.) 1 
Act. By Mrs. Planche. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian: 1 Walking 
Gentleman 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 


dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Utility. Mr. Wyndham 
imagines he is not sufficiently hand¬ 
some for anyone to fall in love with 
him, and in consequence marries % 


74 


EIGHT CHABACTERS. 


blind lady. He is compelled to go 
abroad for two years, and during his 
absence his wife is cured. The subter¬ 
fuge he employs on his return when he 
hears of his wife’s recovery forms the 
amusing outline of this play. 

Noemie. 2 Acts. Adapted by T. W. 


Robertson. Modern Costume. Tim6, 
1 hour 30 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Utility; 2 
Lady Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Noemie is in search ol 
her father; she enters his chateau as 
a servant, and is ultimately identified. 


FIVE MALES AND THREE FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Bachelor’s Buttons. 1 Act. By E. 
Stirling. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. Garden Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Chambermaid; 2 
Utility. The fun in this piece is con¬ 
centrated in a young lady assuming 
various characters tcf meet her in¬ 
tended husband, in order, as she says, 
to bring his manly dignity down by 
petticoat simplicity. 

Bathing;. 1 Act. By J. Burton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 41 min. 3 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Two lovers and a gar¬ 
dener and footman manage to get their 
clothes changed while bathing. The 
complications that ensue are very ludi¬ 
crous. 

Captain is Not a Miss. 1 Act. By 
T. E. Wilkes. Military and Modern 
Costume. Time, 37 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; and 2 
Chamber maids. Two of the ladies 

assume male attire. Emily and her 
servant, Fanny, disguise themselves as 
a captain and his tiger in order to 
avoid a marriage with Emily’s guar¬ 
dian’s nephew, whom she has never 
seen. They adopt the names of this 
nephew and his servant, who appear 
on the scene and they get discovered. 

Census. 1 Act. By W. Brough and 
A. Halliday. Modern Costume. Time, 
32 min. 1 Interior Scene; 4 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Peter Familias’s 
niece, Rose, is about to elope with Mr. 
Albert Pumps on the morning the 
Census paper has to be filled up. 
Albert, having been on the premises 
all night, has to be included in the 
paper, and being discovered assumes 
the part of the enumerator, and 
frightens P^ter to assent to his mar¬ 
riage with Rose. 

Declined with Thanks. 1 Act. By 

J. M Moiton. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility: 2 Walking 

Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A fortune 


is left to one of two sisters, and Mr. 
Samuel Skruff pays them a visit, with 
the intention of marrying the wealthy 
one. They have their own lovers, 
whom they subject to a good deal of 
humorous chaff, finally declining Mr. 
Skruff with thanks. 

Dimity’s Dilemma. 1 Act. By M. 
C. Salaman. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

2 Low Comedians; 2 Utility; 3 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Dimity Senior woos Miss 
Pendleton. As she objects to widowers 
he pretends he is a bachelor. Dimity 
Junior (secretly married) arrives with 
his wife, and she is mistaken for the 
wife of Dimity Senior, who is sus¬ 
pected of attempted bigamy, while the 
wife accuses Dimity Junior of deceit. 

False Alarm. 1 Act. By A. W. 

Y<pung. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. An old 
gentleman having met a young lady, 
and taken her out to supper during 
his wife’s absence, is alarmed lest his 
wife should hear of it. 

Friend Waggles. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Country Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Old Men; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Chambermaids. Squire 
Jolliboy has invited his relations to 
spend his sixty-second birthday with 
him, intimating that if they do not 
appear they will not be included in 
his will. _ Upon their arrival, friend 
Waggles is made to assume the charac¬ 
ter of husband to one of the married 
ladies, which leads him into many 
difficulties. 

Goose with Golden Eggs. 1 Act. 

By ^ A. Mayhew and S. Edwards. 
Modern Costume.' Time. 45 min. J 
Interior Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
Clara Turby receives a goose from her 
aunt. As it is not very sweet Mr. 
Turby gives the goose to Mr. Flickster 
as he owes one to him. Mr. Flickster 
in his turn gives it to Mr. Bonser 
(Turby’s clerk, and Clara’s lover), who 
throws it away. A letter is sub¬ 
sequently found in the hamper ad- 


■ IGHT CHARACTERS. 


75 


braised to Clara from her aunt, stating 
that £500 is stuffs in the goose. 
General excitement now ensues to find 
the goose, and when found, a letter 
arrives stating that the notes were not 
put in a3 originally intended, and an 
open cheque for the amount is en- 
alosed. 

John Smith. 1 Act. By W. Han¬ 
cock. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Boy; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid; 1 Old Woman. Old 
Smith takes a room at a lodging house 
and meets his son whom he has not 
heard of for a year, and who gets into 
his father’s room through their two 
names being the same. 

Marriage at any Price. 1 Act. By 
J. P. Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 
48 min. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 

1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 2 Walking Ladies. A 
brother and sister are each left £10.000 
on condition that if either of them 
marry the delinquent shall forfeit his 
or her share to the other, and if they 
both marry the whole is to go to their 
guardian. They both secretly marry, 
and in visiting their guardian, their 
consorts go in disguise. A lady and 
gentleman would each have to assume 
the costume of the opposite sex. 

Mother and Child are doing- well. 

1 Act. By J. M. Morton. Tropical 
Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Utility. 
A screaming farce, containing the most 
absu r d situations and mistakes. It 
describes the adventures of a young 
gentleman arriving at Jamaica to seek 
a wife. 

Nice Quiet Day. 1 Act. By H. T. 
Hipkins and Gaston Murray. Modern 
.Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A colonel, whose wife 
is fond of gaiety, desiros to have a nice 
quiet day. The farce shows how his 
wishes are realised. Mr. Timothy 
Poodle is an amateur umbrella mender. 
By this means he gets into the house 
of Col. Brimstone to visit his lady¬ 
love, and is mistaken by the Colonel, 
who wishes for a nice quiet day, for 
someone after his wife. 

Pipkin’s Rustic Retreat. 1 Act. 
By T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Old Wcman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A retired 
CocKiiey dealer takes a country house 
ia a rather dilapidated condition. On 


arriving there with his wife and 
daughter, he finds it in the possession 
of some artists. These he mistakes for 
banditti. 

Pouter’s Wedding. 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Old Men; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. Simon Pouter has 
just been married, and by custom the 
squire is entitled to kiss the bride 
first. This Simon objects to, and 
passes off as his wife a captain who 
has assumed female attire in order to 
gain access to the squire’s niece. 

Rendezvous. 1 Act. By R. Ayton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Quake starts off with his servant to 
settle about husbands for his daughter 
and niece. The ladies, however, have 
chosen for themselves, and during Mr. 
Quake’s absence their lovers arrive, to¬ 
gether with the maidservant’s young 
man, when Mr. Quake suddenly re¬ 
turns. 


Sudden Thoughts. 1 Act. By T. E. 
Wilkes. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Man; 2 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. “ Sudden thoughts ” occur to 
Mr. Impulse, in order to get rid of his 
debts and the bailiff, and finally to 
marry the lady of his choice. 

Turning- the Tables. 1 Act. By 
John Poole. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 5 min. 1 Interior 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Knibbs 
desires his daughter to marry Mr. 
Bumps, who is about to visit them. 
The young lady objects, and with her 
acquaintances devises certain schemes 
to annoy the proposed lover. Mr. 
Bumps learns about these designs, and 
he is enabled to turn the tables on 
them. 


Who's My Husband? 1 Act. By J. 

M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Exterior Street Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mrs. 
Smith Thomson has married a - smug¬ 
gler and has not seen him for ten 
years. He has, however, provided for 
her. but will not disclose himself, as he 
is wanted. He afterwards receives a 
free pardon for an act of bravery. 


76 


EIGHT CHARACTERS, 


Wisdom of Folly. Is. 6d. 3 Acts. 

By Cosmo Hamilton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 2i hours. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 3 Low Comedians; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Lady Comedian; 
1 Utility. Mrs. Bose, a widow, is 


courted by a retired Admiral, a retired 
Colonel, and a retired politician res¬ 
pectively. She is a woman whose 
memory is quite an unknown quantity, 
and considers it best to trust her 
future to the hands of her lawyer, Mr. 
Eliot, whom she marries. 


COMEDIES. 


April Showers. 3 Acts. By G. 
Somers Bellamy and Frederick Romer. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. Lord Lacy is en¬ 
gaged to Queenie ^awrence. His son, 
Frank Lacy, falls m love with Queenie. 
He finds out the state of affairs, and is 
about to depart. Lord Lacy guesses 
the reason, and resigns in favour of 
his son. 

Balance of Comfort. 1 Act. By 
Bayle Bernard. Modern Costume. 
Time, 55 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A husband and wife, after 
being married a short time, quarrel, 
and agree to a mutual separation. 
Some time after the husband is forced 
to take refuge in his wife’s house, when 
a reconciliation is effected. 

Caste. 3 Acts. By T. W. Bobertson. 
Is. Modern Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 
2 Interior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Undoubtedly the most suc¬ 
cessful comedy in the English lan¬ 
guage. _ George D’Alroy, son of the 
Marquise de St. Maur, marries a ballet 
girl Esther Eccles. He is ordered to 
India, the wife becomes a mother, and 
is in reduced circumstances. A report 
of D’Alroy’s death reaches England. 
The presumed widow declines the as¬ 
sistance of her proud mother-in-law, 
but is relieved by Captain Hawtree, a 
brother officer of D’Alroy. The return 
of the husband completes the happi¬ 
ness of all concerned. There are some 
other prominent characters in the play, 
viz., Polly (Esther’s sister) and their 
drunken father, Eccles, also Sam Ger- 
ridge, Polly’s- lover, who all assist to 
illustrate the various phases in the dis¬ 
tinctions of “ Caste.” 

Charming Woman. 3 Acts. By H. 
Wigan. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes- 
2 Comedians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies. Alfred Ardent hav¬ 
ing been successfully nursed through 
an illness by a widow, Mrs. Bloomly, 
falls in love with her and she with 
him but hearing that he is engaged tc 
ano'her, she marries another euitor in 


order to secure the happiness of 
Alfred’s fiancee. 

Cupid in Waiting-. 3 Acts. By B. 

Jerrold. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Augustus Sweetboy 
marries Honoria Bloom, thinking she 
has money. On hearing he is deceived 
he deserts her. He afterwards repents, 
and Honoria’s mother coming into a 
fortune, he resolves to repair his error 
by more manly conduct in future. 

Dream of the Future. 3 Acts. By 
Charles Dance. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 
Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
Two sisters of fortune return from a 
ball, one having quarrelled with her 
lover, and the other undecided about 
accepting hers. During their conver¬ 
sation they fall asleep. The second 
act shows the dream of the elder sister, 
which is supposed to take place 40 
years hence. The third act com¬ 
mences in the same room as the first. 
When the sisters awake the elder one 
recites the dream to the younger, and 
they decide about their respective 
lovers. 

First Affections. 1 Act. By J. P. 
Simpson. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 3 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Ladv; 1 
Utility. Captain Egerton returns from 
India after many years’ absence. He 
has bestowed his first affections u^on 
Mrs. Meriton, but upon meeting they 
seem to prefer other partners, Mrs. 
Meriton becoming engaged to a Mr. 
Paul Elliot while the captain favours 
Mrs. Meriton’s sister. 

Glass of Fashion. 4 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 
2i hours. 3 Interior Scenes;. 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Light 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Macadam, a wealthy brewer, is married 
to a countess, and, being told that the 
surest way to success in society is to 
own a fashionable journal, he pur¬ 
chases “ The Glass of Fashion,” but 
after libelling all his friends, his ward, 
and his own wife, ho is glad to dispose 
of it “ dirt cheap.” 


SIGHT CHARACTERS 


77 


Happiest Man Alive. 1 Act. By 
William H. Bernard. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 4 Interior Scenes, and 
1 Exterior; 1 Light Comed'an; 2 
"Walking Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Old Woman. Charles Euston states 
he is the happiest man alive; he has 
fortune, friends, and is engaged to a 
beautiful girl. His happiness then 
turns to sorrow. His lawyer decamps 
with his money, and he imagines every¬ 
one has deserted him. The lawyer 
being caught, he once more returns to 
happiness. 

If the Cap Fits. 1 Act. By N. H. 
Harrington and E. Yates. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Comedians; 2 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. 
Three officers of the Light Dragoons 
fall in love with a widow. They meet 
in the lady’s drawing-room, where they 
find a smoking cap, which they 
eagerly try on. After drawing lots to 
determine what each should do, the 
widow arrives on the scene, and, put¬ 
ting the cap on each, she declares it 
fits neither of them and that she is ex¬ 
pecting her future husband by the 
next mail from China. 

Love Wins. 3 Acts. By Saville Clarke 
and Du Terreau. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Leading Lady; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. A 
gentleman has adopted Netta, the 
daughter of a circus proprietor, and 
falls in love with her. He is supplanted 
by his son, whom he turns out of doors. 
This son gets his living as an artist, 
and a picture of his in the Academy, 
illustrating a girl in a modern circus, 
is bought by a dealer for the father, 
who immediately recognises in it the 
likeness of Netta. An effective scene 
ensues with the son and Netta. Re¬ 
conciliation follows. 

Neighbours. 2 Acts. By J. Oxen- 

ford. Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 
15 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Ebenezer Block and Benjamin Bunn 
are neighbours, and both wealthy. They 
each have a daughter. Block has a 
poor artist staying with him, and he 
thinks him an admirable match for 
Bunn’s daughter, and tries to arrange 
an engagement. He has, however, to 
consent to a union between his own 
daughter and the artist. 


Old Sailors. 8 Acts. By H. J. 

Byron. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior and 1 Exterior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman. Lieutenant 
Lamb, a retired navy man, is in 
money difficulties; he has brought up 
Frank (who is of inferior parentage) as 
It's son. Frank is in love with Clara 
Mayfield; but a rich heiress, Millicent 
Tremain, appears, and endeavours to 
captivate Frank. She discards him on 
learning about his origin, and Frank 
being offered a lucrative situation, be¬ 
comes engaged to Clara. 

Roscncrantz and Guildenstcrn. 

Tragic Episode in 3 Tableaux and 1 
Act. By W. S. Gilbert. Danish Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 m?in. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. This is a 
skit on “ Hamlet,” wherein the King 
is described as having written a 
tragedy, which proves unsuccessful, 
and all reference to it is forbidden. 
The Queen organises an entertainment 
for Hamlet; Ophelia and her lover, 
Rosencrantz persuade him to act his 
father’s tragedy; he does so; is 
banished, and thus leaves the lovers 
free. 


Secret Agent. 2 Acts. By J. S. 

Coyne. German Costume. Period, 
1810. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Saloon 
Scenes; 1 Light Comedian: 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; a few Supers. Duke 
Victor has allowed his government to 
be ruled by his mother and her Minis¬ 
ters. His cousin Ernestine convinces 
him of his error, and suggests that 1 e 
should take the reins in hand and inti¬ 
mate that he is advised in everything 
by a secret agent. The plan succeeds, 
and he marries Ernestine. 

Title. 3 Acts. By T. Edgar Pemberton. 
Costume, French, period 1818. Time, 
2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Utility; 3 Lady Comedians 
Leon Brotot lives with his mother, 
Therese Brotot. He falls in love with 
Janet Averill, a ward of the Count de 
Trevenec, who has married a second 
time, thinking his first wife was dead. 
It transpires that Therese Brotot was 
the first wife, and she and her son 
generously abandon their rights 
through the instrumentality of Janet] 
to whom Leon eventually becomes en¬ 
gaged. 


73 


BIGHT CHARACTBB.8, 


DRAMAS. 


Jto^iri Cavd^. (Comic.) 2 Acts. By 

J. P. teJin-pson Powder Costume. Time, 
1 hour 30 mib. 2 Ulterior Scenes; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; and Supers. 
Dowager-Duchess of Alvenfels desires 
her nephew, Prince Max, vO marry her 
ward. Princess Amelia, who prefers 
another suitor, while Prince Max 
wishes to marry Hermine, a maid of 
honour. The Dowager-Duchess causes 
Amelia to be impr soned, but, after¬ 
wards, being placed in an awkward 
predicament, she is compelled to a'low 
the lovers to follow their own inclina¬ 
tions. 

a^JJing; for the Best. 2 Acts. By M. 
R. Lacy. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 15 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Chambermaid; 1 Walking Lady. A 
working man and his family come into 
a large estate, and the manner in 
which they conduct their domestic and 
•social affairs, in their good fortune, is 
verj amusing. 

Dumb Man of Manchester. (Melo¬ 
drama.) 2 Acts. By B. F. Rayner. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 
min. 2 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Tragedian; 
1 Dumb Actor; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; and some Supers. The 
Dumb Man is wrongly accused of 
murder, and has a terrific struggle 
with the villain, finally succeeding in 
bringing him to justice. This play 
affords considerable scope for an actor 
skilled in dumb pantomime. 

Forest Keeper. 2 Acts. By H. Holl. 
Costume—Act I., 1798; Act II., 1815. 
Time, 1 hour 40 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Utility; 2 Lady 
Comedians- 1 Walking Lady. Christian 
Reynold, the forest keeper, in a fit of 
jealously fires at Francois Duchamp, 
who had called to collect some money 
from his wife. Christian then deserts 
his wife, and does not meet her again 
for 17 years, and arrives just in time to 
prevent her marriage with Francois. 

Harold Hawke; or, The Convict's 
Vengeance. 2 Acts. By C. Selby. 
Military and Peasant Costume. Time, 
1 hour 15 min. 3 Exterior and 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Trage¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid; and 


some Supers. Harold Hawk, is • 
drunken “ ne’er-do-well.” He is in l<fc7© 
with Jessie Gray, the belle of tne 
village, and is rejected in favour of 
Leonard Lincoln, whom she marries. 
Harold gets transported for burg'ary 
through Jessie’s ev dence, and four 
years afterwards they meet in Aus¬ 
tralia, when he endeavours to kill 
Jessie, but is shot himself by soldiers 
who come to the rescue. 

Husband to Order. (Serio-Comic.) 
2 Acts. By J. M. Morton. Costume, 
1806-8. Time, 1 hour 26 min. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; J 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Josephine is 
ordered by the Emperor to marry 
Pierre Marceau, and does so in order 
to save her uncle’s estates. On the day 
of her marriage she refuses to recog¬ 
nise Pierre’s relations. He thereupon 
leaves her, and returns in two years 
disguised as his own brother, who is 
reported to be exactly like him, whi'e 
he himself is supposed to be killed. 
After an affecting scene he discloses 
himself, and a happy reconciliation 
ensues. 

x-oving; Cup. (Serio-Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By A. Halliday. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 1 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Lady Comedians. A 
silver loving cup having been stolen, 
*a young man who is on the point of 
sailing to America is suspected. The 
girl who is in love with him asserts 
that she stole it, in order to save his 
arrest. The real culprit is ultimately 
discovered taking the cup from the 
hollow of a tree where it had been 
hidden. 

Meg-’s Diversion. 2 Acts. By H. T. 
Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 45 min. 1 Interior-, 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 3 Comedians; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. One of 
the most successful little plays ever 
written. Jeremy Crow, a farmer, has 
two daughters, Meg and Cornelia. 
Jeremy has to find <£2,000 to save the 
farm, which is mortgaged. Jasper 
Pidgeon is in love with Meg. He has 
been left a fortune, and from sheer lo-ve 
of mischief she pretends to be engaged 
to him, and makes him the laughing¬ 
stock of the village. Roland Pidgeon, 
Jasper’s brother, determines to revengf# 


BIGHT CHARACTERS. 


79 


•Ms cruel joke, and makes love to Meg, 
who returns it. He then jilts her in 
favour of her sister, Cornelia. Meg, 
having had her lesson, consents to 
marry Jasper. 

Money Spinner. 2 Acts. By A. W. 
Pinero. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Char¬ 
acter Parts; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Harold Boycott has borrowed 
money from the firm he is employed 
by to assist his brother, who fails to 
repay at the stipulated time. The 
head of the firm is expected back the 
next day to go through the accounts 
which have been left in Harold’s 
charge. Lord Kengussie, an old ad¬ 
mirer of Harold’s wife, Millicent, 
daughter of the keeper of a gamb ing 
den in Paris, and called the Money 
Spinner on account of her luck with 
the cards, calls at the house, and 
Millicent challenges him to play a 
game at ecarte. and is detected cheat¬ 
ing. Lord Kengussie, however, for¬ 
gives her, and lends Harold the money 
necessary to save him from disgrace. 

Noblesse Oblige. (Comedy-Drama.) 
Prologue and 3 Acts. By Mrs. A. 
Bright. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 4 Interior Scenes; 1 Tragedian; 

2 Old Men; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Lady Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Haydee Aycard is married to a convict. 
She goes as governess to a family, and 
falls in love with Cecil Mainwaring. 
Finally the convict returns, claims his 
wife, and promises repentance. 

Old Man. 2 Acts. By R. Reece. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Boy (aged 6); 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman. Turns on the eccentricities 
cf an old man of 90, wishing to pass 
himself off as young. 

Post Boy. 2 Acts. By H. T. Craven. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 

1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 French Maid. Mr. 
Bingley (son of Sir John Bingley) hav¬ 
ing married the granddaughter of a 
Post Boy, is threatened disinheritance 
by his father if he does not discontinue 
the connection. This he is induced to 
do. and his wife leaves him. In the 
second act a reconciliation is effected; 
the baronet ceases his objection on 
learning that the wife’s father once 
saved his life. 


Roland for an Oliver. (Comic.) 2 
Acts. By Thomas Morton. Old 
Fashioned Costume. Time, 1 hour. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Old 
Men ; 1 Comedian ; 1 Light Comedian ; 
1 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman. Sir Mark Chase pretends he 
is dying, and sends for his nephew, 
Selborne, intimating that he will cut 
him off with a shilling if he does not 
marry Maria Darlington, and call with 
his bride. Selborne is already married, 
and in order to obtain Sir Mark’s 
money he arrives with Maria, and in¬ 
timates they are married. Maria’s 
lover appears, explanations have to be 
given, and Sir Mark finally forgives 
them. 

Stolen Kisses. 3 Acts. By Paul 

Meritt. Modern Costume. Time, 21 
hours. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 

1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Tom Spirit, a retired panto- 
mimist, and Walter Temple, who has 
changed his name and become rich, 
are twin brothers, who quarrelled in 
their youth about a girl. Temple 
wishes to marry his daughter. Jenny, 
to Felix Fremantle, son of Viscount 
Trangmare, and in case of refusal 
threatens to foreclose his mortgages, 
Felix is in love with Charity, Tom’s 
daughter, but in order to save Trang¬ 
mare from ruin Spirit forbids the 
match. The brothers are then recon¬ 
ciled, and the lovers united. 

Sunlig-ht and Shadow. 3 Acts. By 

R. C. Carton. Is. 6d. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2i hours. 1 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Character Part. Mark Denzil falls in 
love with Helen Latimer and is loved 
by her. His wife, whom he thought 
dead, however, appears upon the scene, 
and he goes away. George Addis, who 
has been in love with Helen all along, 
is eventually accepted by her. Mark 
suddenly returns to say good-bye, and 
George, after a struggle, tells him of 
the death of his wife, and that he is 
free to marry Helen. 

Witch of Windermere. (Comic.) 1 
Act. By C. Selby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 55 min. 2 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking Gen¬ 
tlemen; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A fickle village damsel with 
notions above her station finds that all 
is not gold that glitters, and finally 
returns to her old sweetheart. 


SIX MALES; TWO FEMALES. 

FAECES. 

Crimeless Criminal. 1 Act. By M. min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come- 

Becher. Modern Costume. Time, 30 dian; 1 Walking Qentleman; 1 Old 


80 


EIGHT CHARACTERS. 


Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Policeman; 
1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman. A teacher of singing, imagin¬ 
ing his watch has been stolen, follows 
an old gentleman, and mistaking him 
for the thief, makes him give up his 
watch, which he thinks is his own. On 
reaching home he, however, finds his 
watch hanging in the room, and he 
endeavours to get rid of the stolen pro¬ 
perty. He is visited by a young lady 
and her father, and the latter happens 
to be the old gentleman mentioned 
above. Explanations follow, and he 
marries the young lady. 

Doing; Banting;. 1 Act. By W. 

Brough and A. Halliday. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A re¬ 
tired alderman and his sister, both of 
whom are very corpulent, are bam¬ 
boozled by an itinerant professor of 
banting, who is exposed in the end. 

Fighting- by Proxy. 1 Act. By J. 
Kenny. Old-fashioned Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Old Men; 

2 Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A captain 
is engaged to a rich young lady, but 
her parents favour the attentions of 
two old but wealthy suitors. The cap¬ 
tain causes his rivals to quarrel with 
each other, and places them in such a 
ludicrous situation that he is eventu¬ 
ally accepted. 

Fish Out of Water. 1 Act. By J. 

Lunn. Modern Costumes. Time, 1 
hour 20 min. 1 Interior Room Scene; 

3 Old Men; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; and 1 Chambermaid. Sir 
George Courtly desires his steward to 
obtain him a cook and secretary. The 
cook gets installed in the secretary’s 
place, and the secretary in that of the 
eook. The late Mr. Compton made a 
great hit in the part of the cook. 

Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 3 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mr. Snoggins purchases Fitz¬ 
smythe Hall, and in order to suit Mrs. 
Snoggins’s vanity, he adopts the name 
of Fitzsmythe, which family is extinct. 
Frank, a young farmer, is in love with 
their daughter, but the pseudo Mrs. 
Fitzsmythe objects, as his ancestors 
did not come over with the Conqueror, 
so Frank disguises as an artist and 
claims to be the only Fitzsmythe 
living, and declares the so-called Mr. 
and Mrs. Fitzsmythe to be impostors. 
Frank eventually wins the young lady. 

Funnibone’s Fix. 1 Act. By A 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 30 


min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Low Comedians; 3 Utility; I Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. The pro¬ 
prietor of a country newspaper is 
anxiously awaiting the arrival of his 
new sub-editor. His daughter, de¬ 
sirous of obtaining the situation for 
her lover, Mr. Funnibone, intercepts 
the credentials of the gentleman ex¬ 
pected, and introduces Mr. Funnibone 
as the sub-editor. His stupidity iD 
filling the office, and the libels he 
writes on various people in the village, 
lead to a most comical scene. 


Make Your Wills. 1 Act. By E. 

Mayhew and G. Smith. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man ; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. A nephew dresses up 
his servant to represent his uncle, 
whom he hears is dead, and under this 
disguise calls in the lawyer, and en¬ 
deavours to make the uncle’s will in 
favour of himself. The nephew is 
found out, the rumoured death of the 
uncle being a hoax to test his sincerity. 

Man about Town. 1 Act. By W. B. 
Bernard. Modern Costume. Time’ 45 
min. _ 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A gentle¬ 
man is very jealous about his wife, 
and he dresses up someone to represent 
himself being ill, while he spies on 
her. There is a very comical scene 
between the wife and the disguised 
husband. 


Married Bachelor, or Master and 
Man. 1 Act. By P. P. O'Calligen. 
lime, o5 min. 1 Exterior Park Scene; 

1 Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian: 

4 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. _ The capers of a husband f 
during his wife’s temporary absence 
are here depicted. Much amusement 
is created by the man-servant, un¬ 
beknown to himself, introducing his 
secretly married wife to his master 
and in consequence is obliged to wit¬ 
ness a flirtation between them. 

Mummy. 1 Act. By Bayle Bernard. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Si X l e ^t or Scene 5 * Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men: 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Mandragon re¬ 
quires a mummy for his museum, amd 
Capt Canter being in love with nis 
daughter, m order to bring his preten¬ 
sions to a successful issue dresses Tobj 
I ramp as a mummy, and has him 
conveyed to the museum. A most 
amusing scene ensues, and the cap¬ 
tain gams the hand of the lady. 
Pleasant Dreams. 1 Act. By C. 
Lance. Modern Costume. Time, 6Q 


EIGHT CHARACTERS 


81 


min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian- 2 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. A young man arriving at an 
Inn with his uncle and falling asleep, 
he dreams aloud of castles, Princes, 
etc., e-tc. The landlord overhearing 
him. concludes he is a Prince travel¬ 
ling incog. On awaking, all the ser¬ 
vants are kneeling to the young man,, 
who enjoys the joke, and keeps it up 
to the end. 

Practical Man. 1 Act. By Bayle 
Bernard. Modern Costume. Time, 10 
min. 1 Interior Office Scene; 1 Old 
Man; lDomedian; 1 Light Comedian; 
3 Utility Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Utility Lady. Mr. Rockstone, a 

lawyer, has been offered £500 if he will 
procure Mr. Cloudsley a situation. This 
individual arrives, and behaves in an 
extraordinarily eccentric manner. He 
bamboozles the clients, and upsets Mr. 
Rockstone’s affairs to such an extent 
that the latter is glad to give him £20 
to get rid of him. 

Should This Meet the Eye. 1 Act. 

By A. Maltby. Modern Costume. 
Time, 36 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man: 1 Old Man; 2 Utility; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. This is 
one of the most laughable farces ever 
written. An advertisement appears in 
the Times, advertising for L. L.. the 
particulars of which are applicable to 
Lionel Long, a gentleman in love with 
a certain young lady, and Lambkin 
Louder, an oilman, who is after 
another young lady he has met at the 
theatre. The two meet at the ap¬ 
pointed place, and a most comical 
scene ensues. 


Something; to Do. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Old Men; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Doctor 

Wobble is staying at an inn expecting 
Septimus Soft, whom he is desirous 
of marrying to his daughter, Maria. 
Soft does not arrive, and for something 
to do Tom Birmingham assumes this 
character. Maria, against her father’s 
wish, is in love with Charles Canvass, 
Soft’s cousin and Tom’s old school¬ 
fellow. By respectively bamboozling 
the Doctor and Soft when he arrives, 
Tom manages to get the consent cf the 
former to the union of his daughter 
and Charles. 

Up for the Cattle Show. 1 Act. By 

H. Lemon. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. A very laughable 
farce. Squire Granville sends his 8fr- 
vant, a country yokel, to London to 
sell a pig. Marlow, a lawyer, expects 
a visit from the Squire’s nephew, and 
wants his daughter to try and make 
him propose to her. The yokel calls 
at the house of Marlow, who mistakes 
him for the nephew. 

Village Lawyer. 1 Act. By Mr. 

Lyons. Country Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Exterior, 3 Interior Scenes; 3 
Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. A lawyer 
cheats a shopkeeper out of some cloth, 
and then get3 outwitted himself by 
a shepherd. 


COMEDIES 


Duchess or Nothing;. 1 Act. By 
Walter Gordon. Costume, period 1730. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Comedian; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Juvenile Lead; 2 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian. The 
Due de Boissec, a miserly old man, 
has disinherited his nephew, who ap¬ 
peals to Suzanne, the mistress of a 
mill, for advice. The Due has com¬ 
promised himself with an old woman, 
through a trick, but Suzanne saves 
him by announcing she is the Duchess 
de Boissec. The Due out of gratitude 
marries her, and the nephew’s position 
is restored. 

Faint Heart never Won Fair Lady. 

1 Act. By J. R. Blanche. Costume, 
Spanish, period 1677. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Juvenile (aged 15); 3 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman. Ruy Gomez, a lieutenant, 
has fallen desperately in love with the 
Duchess ie Torreneueva who is be¬ 


trothed to the Marquis de Santa Cruz. 
Ruy by his boldness manages to in¬ 
gratiate himself with the king, defeat 
the Marquis, and become engaged to 
the Duchess. 

Follies of a Nig;ht. 2 Acts. By J. 
R. Planche. French Costume, period 
1693. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility. The Duchess de 
Chartres goes to a masquerade ball, 
and there unexpectedly meets the 
Duke, her husband He follows her, 
thinking he has made a conquest. She, 
however, manages to return home un¬ 
discovered, and explains all enquiries 
made about her. 

On Guard. 3 Acts- By W. S. Gilbert. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Exterior (one is a deck of a ship), and 
1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Tra¬ 
gedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Low 


82 


EIGHT CHARACTERS. 


Comedian: 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Guy Warring¬ 
ton, who is engaged to his cousin, 
Jessie Blake, is ordered to Gibraltar, 
and gets his friend Penis Grant to 
mount guard over her during his ab¬ 
sence. How Denis Grant fulfils hie 
trust is herein described. 

Peacock’s Holiday. (Farcical.) 2 
Acts. By H. E. Merivale. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low 
Comedians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Tragedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Antony Peacock is on his holi¬ 
day. He has a daughter, Mary, who 
has two lovers, Swayne and Tickell. 
The former has saved Peacock from an 
accident, and is always reminding him 
of it. Tickell pretends to be in dan¬ 
ger, and allow's Peacock to save him. 
Peacock prefers Tickell. Mary’s 
choice falls upon Swayne. 

Sink or Swim. 2 Acts. By Thomas 
Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 40 min. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 2 Old Men; 1 


Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. Lord Yarnley, a man of wealth, 
is tired of life, and resolves to commit 
suicide. He meets Adam Sterling, w T ho 
makes the same resolve in consequence 
of being ruined by his partner. The 
wealth of one saves the other, and Lord 
Yarnley becomes engaged to Adam's 
daughter. 

Wrinkles. 3 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 20 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 
Comedians; 3 Walking Gentlemen 
(one of whom would have to double); 
2 Lady Comedians. Kate Rayner has 
two suitors, one, Harold Carr, heir to 
the estates, who is determined to win 
her by fair means or foul; the other, 
Wilfred Gordon, secretary on the es¬ 
tate. Kate favours Wilfred, but hav- 
mg a tiff with him he goes abroad. 
Wilfred returns after 20 years. It 
appears he is the rightful owner of the 
estate. Kate had married Harold, but 
died leaving a daughter, who is now 
made happy with her lover through 
Wilfred resigning his inheritance. 


DRAMAS 


Bachelor of Arts. (Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By Pelham Hardwicke. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 40 min. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Harry Jasper, 
in order to have some excitement, 
enters into Mr. Thornton’s house as 
tutor to his son. The tables are turned 
on him, but he eventually marries Mr. 
Thornton’s daughter. 

Deal Boatman. (Serio-Comic.) 2 
Acts. By F. C. Burnand. Costumes, 
period 1718. Time, 1 hour 36 min. 2 
Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walk'ng Lady. An old Deal boat¬ 
man adopts an infant that has been 
saved from a wreck, and brings her up 
as his daughter. A nepherw of Sir 
John Haughton runs away with her, 
to the dismay of her foster father, and 
they are married. She is eventually 
discovered to be the daughter of Sir 
John Haughton, and the grief of the 
old boatman is finally turned to joy. 


Jocrisse, the Juggler. 3 Acts. By 
T. W. Robertson. Costume, period 
1831. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior, 3 
Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Tra¬ 
gedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady. Adolph de Mereno 
and Julie love each other, and Jocrisse, 
the juggler, is bribed by Le Vernay, 
*ho wishes to marry her, to declare he 


is the father of Julie. She is supposed 
to be the daughter of the Countess de 
Lespierre. It so happens that Julie 
really turns out to be the juggler’s 
daughter, and Jocrisse is enabled to 
frustrate the plans of Le Vernay, and 
restore her to her lover. 

King Rene’s Daughter. 1 Act. 

Adapted by Hon. Edmund Phipps. 
Costumes, 1450. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 
1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. 
A version of this beautiful play, which 
is in blank verse, has recently been 
played under the title of “ Iolanthe ” 
at the Lyceum. It poetically describes 
how Count Tristan wooed the blind 
daughter of King Rene, and how she 
afterwards recovers her sight through 
the services of a Moorish physician. 

Shadows. Prologue and 4 Acts. Bf 
Sir C. L. Young. Costume, prologue 
1660; drama, modern. Time, 2 hours 
15 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 4 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utilty; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. In the prologue a Puritan has 
married a Spanish lady, whom he dis¬ 
covers is about to elope with a Royal¬ 
ist. A duel ensues, the Royalist is 
slain, and the wife stabs her husband. 
The dying husband curses her and i.ll 
his race who may henceforth marry a 
Spaniard. In the drama is shown how 
the curse was fulfilled by his descend¬ 
ant marrying a Spanish ladv. 

Village Nightingale. 1 Act. By H. 
T. Craven. Modern Costume. Time. 1 


BIGHT CHARACTERS 


83 


hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
2 talking Gentlemen; 3 Utility; 2 
Walking Ladies. Jessie Carrol is the 
village nightingale. The village lads 
bring her presents on her birthday, but 
the one brought by Stephen Hedgeway, 
the lover she favours, results in a 
quarrel, but Jessie is brought to her 
senses when she sees Stephen make 
love to her neighbour, Julia Snare. 

Where there’s a Will there’s a 
Way. (Comic.) 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Powder Costume. Time, 1 
hoar. Scene, An Apartment in the 
Regent’s Palace; 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 3 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. Dona Francesca is the Princess 
Regent of Portugal, but her husband, 
Don Manuel, is not allowed to have 
any voice in State allairs, and in 
order to favour a friend it is better to 


make out he is an enemy. In this 
way he is the means of uniting two 
lovers who had been separated. 

Word of Honour. 3 Acts. By P. 

Meritt. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 1 Interior, 3 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; I 
Tragedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility- 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Nadine has two lovers, one 
Lionel, Lord Fancourt, and the other 
her father’s secretary, Alfred Trevor, 
who is favoured by Nadine, but her 
father wishes her to marry Lionel, and 
compels Alfred to give his word of 
honour that he will do nothing to 
hinder the alliance. Francis Lus- 
combe, a rascally cousin of Lionel s, 
endeavours to kill the latter, to become 
heir to the property, but is exposed by 
Alfred who is found to be the true 
heir, and then becomes engaged to 
Nadine. 


SEVEN MALES AND ONE FEMALE, 
FARCES. 


Caugrht by the Ears. 1 Act. By C. 

Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 
3 Utility; 1 Walking Lady. An 
eccentric musical amateur, hearing 
that Mr. Sims Reeves is going 
to be in the neighbourhood, sends his 
servants with the carriage to entreat 
a visit from him, and should he refuse 
they are to bring him by force. The 
servants manage to mistake a musical 
tailor named Jem Greeves, for the 


great tenor, and bring him home 
bound hand and foot. 

Thumping; Legacy. 1 Act. By J. 

M. MoTton. Garden Scene. Corsican 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Comedians; 3 
Utility; 1 Chambermaid. In conse¬ 
quence of a family feud against a 
nephew he is inveigled over to Corsica 
to receive a supposed thumping legacy 
from his uncle. On arriving, he finds 
I’is uncle alive, and the treatment he 
receives from his enemies serves to 
depict some very comical situations. 


DRAMAS. 


Payable on Demand. 2 Acts. By 
Tom Taylor. Costumes, 1792 to 1814. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; some supers. During the 
revolution, Reuben Goldsched has a 
bill of exchange to the value of 200,000 
thalers entrusted to him by the Mar¬ 
quis de St. Cast, who gets killed. 
Twenty-two years afterwards Reuben 
is enabled to pay this money over to 
the son of the Marquis, who then 
marries Reuben’s daughter. 


Prince for an Hour. (Comic.) 1 
Act. By J. M. Morton. Costume,, 
Period 1517. Time, 50 min. Scene, 
Exterior Tuscan Farmhouse; 3 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Chambermaid; and a few supers. 
Beppo, a young goatherd, is mistaken 
for Prince Lorenzo de Medicis, whom 
he had assisted, when lost, among the 
mountains. Beppo is thus made a 
prince for an hour until the real prince 
appears and discloses himself. 


64 


NINE CHARACTERS, 


NINE CHARACTERS. 


THREE MALES AND SIX FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Poppleton's Predicaments. 1 Act. 
Bv C. M. Rae. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 3 Old Women; 3 Walking 
Ladies. A bachelor uncle having dis¬ 
carded his nephew for marrying, the 


latter causes an advertisement to be 
put into the paper, giving his uncle’s 
address, and stating he is in want of 
a wife. Of course, he is besieged by 
numerous ladies, amongst whom is the 
nephew’s wife. The uncle takes a 
fancy to her, and finally forgives the 
nephew. 


COMEDY 


Wicked World. (Fairy.) 3 Acts. By 

vv. S. Gilbert. Mythological and 
Ancient Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 
Exterior Scene throughout; 2 Come¬ 
dians; l Low Comedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 4 Walking Ladies. The 
scene is supposed to take place m 
fairyland, where the fairies, believing 


each has a parallel identity in the 
wicked world, summon three of their 
counterparts from the earth, in order 
that they may love as mortals love. 
This causes such dissension among the 
fairies that tranquility does not pre¬ 
vail until the mortals return to the 
wicked world 


FOUR MALES AND FIVE FEMALES. 
FARCE. 


Mischief Making;. 1 Act. By J. B. 

Buckstone. French Country Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 3 Utility 
Ladies. Madam Manette is a misch’ef 


maker; she causes two young lovers ta 
quarrel on their wedaing day, and 
scandalises everyone she can. The 
neighbours retaliate on her, and she 
is glad to beat a hasty retreat, the 
lovers being re-united. 


COMEDIES 


Arabian Nig-hts. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. 
By Sydney Grundy. Modern Costume. 
Time. 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Low r Come¬ 
dian. 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Utility. Mr. Hummingtop is left m 
charge of his mother-in-law during his 
wife’s absence. He receives an un¬ 
expected visit from Rosa Columbia, a 
music-hall artist, with whom he has 
become acquainted. He introduces 
her to his mother-in-law as a niece who 
has been expected. The wife returns, 
and the real niece appears, and Hum¬ 
mingtop has much difficulty in extri¬ 
cat ; ng himself from his dilemma- 
There is a splendid character part, 
which was played very successfully by 
Mr. Penley. 


Silver Lining. 3 Acts. By L. Buck¬ 
ingham. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. Two Interior, 1 Ex- 
tcr ; or Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Juven¬ 
ile Lead; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Old Women; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies. Arthur Merivale has 
previously been jilted, but disbeliev¬ 
ing in women he marries Helen Mal- 
travers who deeply loves him. His 
manner soon causes an estrangement; 
and Mrs. Donngton, a friend, point¬ 
ing out to him the error of his con¬ 
duct, he is at last brought to a sense 
of his error, and husband and wife 
are restored to a natural state of love 
and confidence. 

r t 

Uncle Dick’s Darling;. See MS. 

plays. 


DRAMAS. 


Co»jrt of Oberon; or, The Three 
Wishes. Dramatic Entertainment. 
By the Countess of Hardwicke. Coun¬ 
try and Fairy Costumes. Time, 1 hour. 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chaiubexmaid; 8 Walking Ladies. 


This was originally written by the 
Countess for her children, and is • 
fairy play in prose and verse. Oberon, 
king of the fairies, appears before 
Hodge, a wood-culter, and intimates 
he will comply with his first threa 
wishes. Hodge and his wife, in con- 


BINE CHARACTERS 


85 


aidering the matter, imagine thev will 
have great wealth, but in talking to a 
friend, Hodge inadvertently wishes he 
hau a bakeu eel to otter him, and this 
wish is complied with. Secondly, in 
an argument with his wife, he wishes 
she were dumb; this wish is also 
complied with. Lastly, he has to wish 
she could speak again, so that neither 
of the wishes is of any benefit to him. 

From Village to Court. (Comic.) In 
2 ^ Acts. By J. M. Morton. German 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 2 
Exterior and 1 Interior Scenes; l 
Old Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low' Comedian; 1 
T oP„ Com'' r,; * > " r 2 f 'hambp'"ni!\ ; r!s ; 2 
Utility. Captain Ernest Manheim’t 
me uas bteu oa*fu uv ilie nuj..?.Ut4 of 
a peasant girl, Rose Walstein; he mar¬ 
ries her, and is the means of bringing 
her from village, to Court. 

War. 3 Acts. By T. W. Robertson. Is. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 i hours. 2 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 2 Walking Ladies; 3 

. Utility. Karl Hartmann, a retired 
German, organises a little festivity to 
celebrate the betrothal of his daughter 


Lotte with Oscar, the son of a French 
colonel. In the midst of this they 
learn that war is declared between 
Germany and France. Hartmann 
loins ilie ambulance corps at Berlin, 
and the colonel and his son are sum¬ 
moned to Paris. The latter are 
wounded at Sedan, and Hartmann and 
his daughter appearing with the am¬ 
bulance, Oscar is recognised. At. 
Oscar’s request, he and Lotte are mar¬ 
ried on the field of battle. Oscar is 
then reported dead, but the news Drov¬ 
ing false, he returns, to the delight of 
his wife. 

Wife’® Portrait. 2 Acts. By West- 

land Marston. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Boy (aged 12 ); 3 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Girl (aged 13); 1 Utility. 

David Lindsay, a classical tutor, dis¬ 
agrees with his wife. They part. 
David is supposed to have lost his 
life in a vessel which was shipwrecked 
but it transpires he never went by the 
boat, having left it at the last moment 
to obtain iris wife’s portrait. Husband 
and wife are then reconciled. 


FIVE MALES AND FOUR FEMALES, 
FARCES. 


Hunt for a Husband. 1 Act. By J. 

P. Wooler. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian 1 Walking Gentleman: 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Super; 1 Old Woman; 
2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Mrs. Courlthope is courted by Mr. 
Poppleton, and she intimates to him 
she wull not re-marry until her niece 
has taken a husband. Ponpleton uses 
his best endeavours to procure a part¬ 
ner for the niece, who selects for her¬ 
self. Mrs. Courlthope then gives her 
hand to Mr. Arthur Stanley, to whom 
she has been long attached, and leaves 
Poppleton out in the cold. 

Jane. 3 Acts. By Harry Nicholls and 
W. Lestocq. Is. Modern Costume. 
Time 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 
Page Boy; 1 Chambermaid; 2 Old 
Women; 1 Walking Lady. Charley 
Shackleton has always lived beyond 
his allowance, and in order to get more 
money from his guardian he informs 
him that he is married and has got a 
family, also that his wife is very extra¬ 
vagant. This has the effect of bring¬ 
ing the guardian up to town to lecture 
the wife. Shackleton is at his wits’ 
end but gets Jane, his maid, to im¬ 
personate his wife and to borrow a 
baby from a friend of hers. After a 
most amusing scene th« fraud is dis¬ 
covered. 


Not to be Done. 1 Act. By H. T. 

Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. Scene, Interior Apartment; 1 
Old Man; 2 Comedians; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Chambermaid. Jonas Downy- 
wag has made a bet that he would be 
married in a year, and in order to get 
out of paying, he induces Sally, the 
footboy’s affianced, to act as his wife 
for a few hours. Jonas gets exposed, 
notwithstanding his continual asser¬ 
tion that he is not to be done. 

Race for a Widow. 1 Act. By T. J 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time 
48 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Utility. Two gentlemen 
race after a widow. In the end it is 
discovered that she is married. 

Spoiled Child. 1 Act. Old-fashioned 

Costume. Time, 45 min. 2 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 1 Juvenile (Boy); 1 
Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 2 
Utility. An old farce, sometimes 
known under the title of Little 
Pickle,” which character is often im¬ 
personated by ladies who desire to 
assume a boy’s character. It consists 
of a eeries of practical jokes, bordering 
on pantomime, which are very amus¬ 
ing. 


88 


NIKE CHARACTERS 


Tourist’s Ticket. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 44 
min. 1 Scene, Exterior of Country 
Railway Station; 4 Low Comedians; 
1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 3 Walking 
Ladies. A Station Master is about to 
be married._ but cannot leave the 
station, as his deputy has not arrived. 


Mr. Farringdon Fenchurch comes by 
an excursion train and has lost his 
purse and ticket. In his dilemma, he 
recognises the Station Master as an 
old school-fellow, whereupon the Sta¬ 
tion Master induces him to act as the 
deputy, and a comical scene ensues. 


COMEDIES. 


Facing; the Music. 3 Acts. By J. H. 
Darnley. Is. 6 d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout. 3 Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Lady Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. There are three 
Smiths..the Rev. John Smith, John 
Smith, and Colonel Duncan Smith. 
They are all connected with a 
mansion of flats in Kensington, and 
hopeless muddles are extracted from 
this fact. 


Fool’s Paradise. 3 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 | hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Comedians: 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 3 Lady Comedians; 1 
Utility. Beatrice Selwyn, who has 
married for money, attempts to poison 
her husband by administering small 
doses of arsenic in his medicine. This 
is discovered by his friend, Sir Peter 
Lund, a celebrated physician, and on 
Beatrice learning this she poisons her¬ 
self. 


Importance of Being; Earnest. 

Is. 6 d. 3 Acts. By Oscar Wilde. 

Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. 4 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 2 
Walking Ladies; 2 Lady Comedians. 
In order to enable him to come to 
town when he pleases, John Worthing, 
of Manor House, Woolton, Herts., 
gives out he has a brother Ernest in 
London. In town he is known as 
Ernest Worthing. His friend, Alger¬ 
non Moncrieff, adopting a similar 
notion, visits an imaginative invalid, 
Bunbury, when he desires to leave 
London. Worthing being accepted by 
Gwendoline Fairfax, determines to 
bury Ernest, but Moncrieff has con¬ 
ceived the idea of coming to Woolton 
as that individual. He falls in love 
with Worthing’s ward. Cicely, and 
after many complications a happy end¬ 
ing is attained. 


Lady Huntworth’s Experiment. 

Is. 6 d. By R. C. Carton. Modem 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 1 
Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 3 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Newsboy (which may be 
omitted); 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Utility. 
The cook in a country vicarage turns 
out to be the divorced wife of Lord 
Huntworth. She is adopting this plan 
in order to bury her past life. Lord 
Huntworth unexpectedly arrives at the 
vicarage, and tries to induce her to 
live with him again, the reason being, 
it is discovered, a firm of solicitors ad¬ 
vertising for Lady Huntworth to make 
over to her some property left by an 
uncle. She refuses, and quits the 
house for the Continent. There is an 
excellent low comedian’s part in the 
character of Lord Huntworth. 

Much Too Clever. 1 Act. By J. 
Oxenford and J. Hatton. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. 
Titus Quillet is a guest of Julius 
Trumble, and believes it is his mission 
to set everything right when he thinks 
anything is wrong. He discovers ever¬ 
lasting mare’s nests, is always 
“ putting his foot in it,” and peace only 
reigns again in the domestic circle 
when he is taking his departure. 

My Wife’s Daughter. 2 Acts. By J. 
Sterling Coyne. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 25 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen* 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comediah; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. The incidents of this play con¬ 
sist of the complications arising from 
a lady of 40 with a grown-up daughter 
trying to pass herself off as young. It 
is rather amusing, and easily arranged. 

Not Such a Fool as He Looks. 

(Eccentric.) 3 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
Modem Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 


NINE CHARACTERS. 


a? 


min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 
Old Women; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Utility. Daniel Murgatroyd, a money 
lender, is anxious to marry his niece 
to Sir Simon Simple, whom he has 
from infancy falsely passed off as the 
Baronet. Sir Simon discovers that the 
niece is en raged to another, a’ 1 re¬ 
fuses, whereupon Murgatroyd de¬ 
nounces him as the son of a washer¬ 
woman. Murgatroyd having been 
separated from his wife for many years, 
is eventually reconciled to her, and Sir 
Simon proves to be their own son. 


Sweethearts and Wives. 2 Acts. 

By J. Kenny. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 2 Scenes—1 Garden of an. 
Inn, 1 Apartment at an Inn; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Juvenile Lead- 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Admiral 
Franklin desires his son Charles to 
marry his niece Laura, and they are 
supposed to be engaged, but Frank 
has already married Eugenia, and 
Laura is in love with Charles’ friend, 
Sandford. Eugenia, therefore, in order 
to get over the Admiral’s scruples, 
retends to be a maid, waits upon 
im, and thoroughly succeeds in her 
object. 

Three Hats. 3 Acts. Adapted by 
Arthur Shirley from the French of the 
author of “ Pink Dominoes.” Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout; 1 Light Comedian; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 


dian; 1 Boy in Buttons; 1 Old Man; 
1 Old Woman; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. A screamingly funny 
piece, and can be highly recommended. 
It describes the adventures of three 
hats, which fall into the possession of 
different owners, and the complica¬ 
tions arising therefrom. 

Two Roses. 3 Acts. By James Albery. 
Is. Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 
30 min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
3 Comedians; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Old Women; 2 Lady Comedians. 
Digby Grant, a hypocritical individual, 
who does not scruple to borrow from 
his acquaintances, has two daughters, 
Lotty and Ida, with whom Jack 
Whyatt and Caleb Deecie are in love. 
A lawyer informs Grant that he has 
inherited immense property, where¬ 
upon, in his pride, he insults Jack and 
Caleb by the manner in which he 
repays them for their generosity, and 
uses every means in his power to 
separate the lovers. Caleb is dis¬ 
covered to be the heir to the property, 
and Grant then maintains that the 
union of the lovers was the dream of 
his life. 

ar to the Knife. 3 Acts. By H. J. 

Byron. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 45 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 
Comedians- 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 2 Cham¬ 
bermaids. Mrs. Harcourt has been en¬ 
gaged to Captain Thistleton, but find¬ 
ing out his true character, she throws 
him over, and to be revenged he keeps 
one of her letters, promising when she 
is married to show it to her husband. 
Mrs. Delacour, a young widow, makes 
love to the Captain, administers a 
sleeping draught, and secures the com¬ 
promising document. 



DRAMAS. 


Agrnes de Vere. 3 Acts. By J. B. 

Buckstone. Old-fashioned or Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 min. 4 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Trage¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Lady Tragedian; 1 
Chambermaid; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Child. Agnes, having secretly married 
De Vere, to the disappointment of her 
father and lover, discovers that her 
husband is unfaithful to her. She 
shoots at her rival at a masked ball, 
poisons her husband, and finally dies 
of a broken heart. 

Dark Cloud. 2 Acts. By A. Sketchley. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 
1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Tragedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Utility. Describes the trials 
of a young wife whose first husband 
was wrongly convicted of forgery. 

For the Old Love’s Sake. 3 Acts. 
By Stanley Rogers. Modern Costume. 


Time. 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 
Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Herbert Davenat, a worthless adven¬ 
turer. has obtained a divorce from his 
wife Rachel by false evidence. He is 
about to marry Kate Lawrence, when 
Rachel appears on the scene. In order 
to keep her silent, Herbert promises to 
restore Rachel her child, but before 
Marrying Kate he is denounced by an 
unprincipled lawyer in his employ, 
which causes his arrest, prior to which 
he takes poison, but clears Rachel’s 
character before dying. 

Nine Days’ Wonder. (Comedy- 

Drama.) 3 Acts. By Hamilton Aide. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 2 Old Women; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. Vavasour 
meets Mrs. Fitzroy, to whom he was 
engaged in his youth, before he went 


88 


NINE CHARACTERS. 


to India. His daughter Kate has just 
returned from a visit, where she ha3 
met and fallen in love with Christian 
Douglas, about whose parents there is 
something discreditable. Vavasour 
asks Mrs. Fitzroy to marry him, when 
Douglas appears and recognises her as 
his mother. She eventually goes away 
and leaves him to Kate. 

Worth a Struggle. (Comedy-Drama.) 
4 Acts. By W. R. Waldron. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 Hours. 4 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 
how Comedians; 3 Walking Ladies; ] 
Old Woman. A swindling lawyer is 
intrusted with the will of a deceased 
gentleman, who has left his property 
to his niece. The young girl is un¬ 
aware of this, and the lawyer brings 
an accusation of forgery against her 


father, endeavouring to force her to 
marry him. He is ultimately exposed. 

Young - Mrs. Winthrop. 4 Acts. By 
Bronson Howard. Is. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 10 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile; 
1 Old Man; 2 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman; 1 Juvenile 
Lady. Douglas Winthrop and his 
wife, Constance, have become rather 
estranged. He is always detained at 
business, and she goes out into Society 
too much. He particularly wishes her 
not to go to a certain ball. She, how¬ 
ever, goes, and on her return she finds 
that her little daughter has been sud¬ 
denly taken ill, and is dead. Husband 
and wife agree to separate, and he goes 
abroad for three months. They meet 
to sign the deed of separation, and are 
reconciled. 


SIX MALES AND THREE FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Appeal to the Feelings. 1 Act. By 
T. A. Palmer. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene, with prac¬ 
ticable window and shutters; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian: 3 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid. 
An old gentleman, who sympathises 
with burglars, etc., has one in his 
house as his servant. After being 
robbed and half killed by the man’s 
associates, he determines not to appeal 
to their feelings any more. 

Bamboozling. l Act. By J. E. 
Wilkes. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man- 3 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. A young married 
lady unexpectedly meets her uncle at 
an hotel, and in order to explain her 
husband’s absence she prevails upon a 
stranger to take his place for hall an 
hour. 

Beauty or the Beast. 1 Act. By 

John Oxenford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 53 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 3 Low Comedians; 1 
Old Man; 1 Utility; 1 Chambermaid; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. 
Wadding, a bird stuffer, has a 
daughter, Hetty, who is beloved by 
Higgins, a maker of lay figures, 
Wiggins, a manufacturer of glass eyes, 
and Figgins, a fur merchant, and after 
many farcical situations her choice 
rests with Higgins. 

Cut for Partners. 1 Act. By J. 

Bruton. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. Two 
young gentlemen are in love with two 


sisters, but the guardian of the latter 
will not consent, but engages them to 
gentlemen of his own selecting. The 
lovers get their rivals to fight a, duel, 
and make each believe he has kil ed 
his opponent. By this and other de¬ 
vices they finally win the hands of the 
young ladies. 

Dinner for Nothing:. 1 Act. By C. 

S. Cheltnam. Modern and Foreign 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man- 5 Comedians; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. An old gentleman with 
cosmopolitan ideas gives a dinner, and 
invites an assortment of foreigners to 
partake of it. They accept, and turn 
the house into a sort of second Babel. 

Drawing; Rooms, Second Floor 
and Attic. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 45 

min. 4 Interior Scenes; 4 Old Men; 
2 Low Comedians; 2 Walking Ladies; 
1 Chambermaid. The scenes take 
place upon the various floors of a 
house, where the inmates’ affairs get 
mixed up in an inglorious muddle, 
and everybody encounters everybody 
else in a state of jealous frenzy. 

Fortune’s Frolic. 1 Act. By J. T 
Allingham. Early English Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Old Man; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman'; 2 Walking Ladies. Shows 
how a country boy is found to be 
the son of the late Lord of the 
Manor, and coming into the pro¬ 
perty, is enabled to set right the evils 
practised by the late steward. 

Legfal Impediment. 1 Act. By J. 

Oxenford. Modern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man ; 


NINE CHARACTERS 


89 


S Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 3 Walking Ladies. 
Good part for Slush, the low comedian, 
a lawyer’s clerk with bad memory 
(originally played by Mr. Rob?on), 
visits a house and cannot remember 
for what he came. 

terrible Tinker. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
32 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman: 3 Utility; 1 Walking 

Lady; 2 Chambermaids. Sam Saw¬ 
der, an itinerant tinker, enters Mr. 
Poppinton’s house, and he is imagined 
by Mrs. Poppinton to have become 
possessed of a secret which places her 
under his thumb. Sam Sawder intro¬ 
duces three of his “ pals,” a green¬ 
grocer, chimney sweep, and muffin 
man. Mr. Poppinton returns and 


finds these individuals, and the secret 
being some mistake, they are all got 
rid of. 

Twice Killed. 1 Act. By John Oxen- 
ford. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 2 Scenes—a River View and a 
Parlour. 2 Comedians; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Man; 
1 Utility; 1* Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Ralph Reckless, in order to get into 
the house of his lady love, conceals 
himself in a basket, and has it 
conveyed there. The basket gets 
thrown into the river, and he 
is thought to be killed. After¬ 
wards he takes a glass of wine with 
a sleeping draught in it. and it is 
thought he is noisoned. He recovers, 
and gains the object of his choice. 


COMEDIES 


Billing- and Cooing. 2 Acts. By 

John Oxford. Costume, Old-fashioned 
or Modern. Time, 1 hour 5 min. 2 
Interior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Juvenile 
Lead; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lacy 
Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Mr. Aircastle, suffering 
from poverty, but desiring to be 
thought wealthy, has two nieces de¬ 
pendent on him, Lady Bell Honey¬ 
comb, a poor widow of title, and 
Clarissa, the latter having an eligible 
suitor in Theodore Fretleigh, but 
Clarissa is extremely jealous of his 
cousin Julia. Lady Bell induces Gil¬ 
bert Easy to become engaged to Julia, 
and after selecting a husband for her- 
selt, the three couples are made 
happy. 

Faces in the Fire. 3 Acts. By 
Leicester Buckingham. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Comedians; 1 Juvenile: 2 Utility; 2 
Lady Comedians; 1 Walking Lady. 
Alice Hargrave withholds from her 
husband the fact that she has a son 
by a previous marriage. Mr. Har¬ 
grave, however, is guardian to this 
son, and resolves to send him abroad. 
The mother’s agony at parting from 
her son induces her to apply foi ad¬ 
vice to her old friend, Alfred G1 anvil. 
This causes the jealousy of Mrs. Glan- 
vil, a. d complete happiness is not re¬ 
stored until the existence of the son 
has been disclosed. 

Gossip. 2 Acts. By A. Harris and T. 
J. Williams. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 30 min. 1 Interior, 1 Ex*er'or 
Scene; 2 Comedians; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen: 1 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians: 1 Walking Lady. Peals with 
the pecul ar fondness a certain lady has 
for turning everything she hear* into 
scandal. 


Heroes. 3 Acts. By Conway Edwards. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 1 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
2 Walking Ladies. A capital comedy, 
similar in plot to “ Shipmates,” only 
the lovers go to the war instead of to 
sea. 

New Boy. Is. 6d. 3 Acts. By Arthur 
Law. Modern Costume. Time, 2i 
hours. 1 Interior Scene throughout; 
4 Comedians; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Martha Rennick comes 
to visit her relative, Dr. Candy, 
schoolmaster, with her husband. She 
is desirous of keeping her second mar¬ 
riage from the doctor, and her hus¬ 
band being of quite youthful appear¬ 
ance, is introduced as her son. He 
then becomes a member of the school, 
and is compelled to submit to extra¬ 
ordinary indignities. 

Old Soldiers. 3 Acts. By H. J. 

Byron. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Comedian; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Old 
Woman. Lionel Leverett and Mary 
Moss are old sweethearts; so, too, are 
Gordon Lockhart and Kate McTavish. 
Kate’s father knowing that Leverett is 
rich, favours his engagement to her, 
and Lockhart having quarrelled witli 
her, makes love to Mary Moss. Cassidy, 
an c>ld Irish servant, leads McTavish to 
believe that Leverett will lose all his 
fortune, and hearing that Lockhart has 
come into money, he induces Kate to 
return to her early love, whilst Leverett 
pairs off with Mary. 

Our Pet. 3 Acts. By Conway Edwards. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 46 
min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes: 9 


90 


NINE CHARACTERS. 


Old Men; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. “ Our Pet,” the heroine, is 
betrothed to a young artist. A report 
is circulated of his death. Matters 
look very gloomy, but the lover re¬ 
turns. 

Silken Fetters. 3 Acts. By L. Buck¬ 
ingham. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 
Comedians ;'1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. Herbert 

Trevanion had secretly married the 
Countess of Windermere, who imagined 
her husband had been drowmed at sea, 
but on returning from the church they 
learn he is alive, and at once separate. 
The Earl arrives, but the Countess 
cannot forget her love for Herbert, who 
afterwards falls in love with his cousin 
Clara. The Countess finally departs 
with her husband to the West Indies, 
leaving the lovers free. 

Sleeping- Hare. 2 Acts. By J. J. 

Dilley. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 20 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
scapegrace accidentally discovers that 
his guardian’s daughter is in love with 
him. This affords him such food for 


reflection that he mends his ways, goes 
to Australia, makes a fortune, and re¬ 
turns at the end of six years to claim 
the lady. 


Tit for Tat. 2 Acts. By F. Talfourd 
and A. Wigan. Modern Costume. Time, 
78 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Light 
Comedian: 2 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady. Mr. Frederick 
Thornby annoys Mr. Sowerby about 
him being jealous of his wife. Frederick 
then marries, and Sowerby has a hard 
task in making Frederick jealous in 
return; he, however, succeeds at last. 

Weak Woman. 3 Acts. By H. J. 
Byron. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 
1 Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Old 
Woman. Helen and Lillian Gaythorne 
are cousins. A large fortune has been 
left to one of them, but it is kept secret 
to which one. Captain Ginger and 
Tootal, two adventurers, try to find 
out which is the heiress, and continu¬ 
ally transfer their affections from one 
to the other. A will is then found 
leaving the money to Fred Fanshawe, 
who marries Helen, and Lillian pairs 
off with Arthur Medwyn, a young 
farmer. 


DRAMAS. 


All that Glitters is Not Gold. 

(Comic.) 2 Acts. By Thomas and J. 
M. Morton. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Tragedian; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Lady; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Lady 
Comedian; and some Supers. Also 
known under the title of the “ Fac¬ 
tory Girl.” Jaspar Plum, the pro¬ 
prietor of a cotton mill, has two sons, 
Stephen and Frederick. The former 
has kept to the mill, and fallen in love 
with a factory girl, Martha Gibbs, to 
the annoyance of his father, while the 
latter, who has received a university 
education, marries Lady Valeria West- 
endleigh. Martha proves to be the 
foster-sister of Valeria, and Jaspar then 
consents to her union with Stephen. 

Dreams. 5 Acts. By T. W. Robert¬ 
son. Is. Modern Costume* Time, 2£ 
hours. 4 Interior and 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 3 Comedians; 1 Old Man; 2 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Wa’kmg 
Lady; 1 Old Woman. Rudolf Harfthal 
visits England, hoping his opera may 
be accepted. He falls in love with Lady 
Clara Vere de Vere, but is met with 
haughty scorn from her. He after¬ 
wards gets the worst of an encounter 
with the Earl of Mount Forestcourt, 
Lady Clara’s accepted suitor. Lina, 
who is in love with Rudolf, follows him 


from Germany nurses him through his 
illness, and the opera being success¬ 
fully produced, they are afterwards 
happily united. 

Duel in the Snow. 3 Acts. By E. 
Fitzball. Modern and Masquerade 
Dress. Time, 1 hour 25 min. 4 In¬ 
terior, lJExterior Scenej 2 Comedians; 


Charles Andry has married for money, 
while loving Emily Lonsdale. Captain 
Dartford appears and vows he will 
take poison as his affairs are so des¬ 
perate. Sir Charles advances the 
money required, and the Captain 
leaves the poison on the table. A 
quarrel then occurs between Lady 
Andry and her husband, and she takes 
the poisen in mistake and dies. Sir 
Charles then marries Emily, who after¬ 
wards elopes with Captain Dartford. 
Sir Charles and Dartford eventually 
meet at a duel, and both are killed. 

Gilded Youth. 4 Acts. By Sir C. 
Young. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 4 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Lambert 
Thorp has murdered Lady Ingram’i 
only son; ho is condemned, but escapes 


l now comedian; 'Z Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 
1 Chambermaid: and supers. Sii 


NIHS CHARACTERS. 


§1 


and travels under the name of Law¬ 
rence Trevor. Under this name he 
forms an acquaintance with the In¬ 
grains, and gets engaged to the 
youngest daughter. He is exposed by 
Abel Whitcraft, whose daughter he 
had wronged, and finally commits sui¬ 
cide. 

Isle of St. Trope*. 4 Acts. By M. 
Williams and F. C. Burnand. Costume 
1795. Time, 1 hour 35 min. 1 Ex¬ 
terior, 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Tragedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady, and 
supers. A young girl marries to save 
her father’s name, and she meets her 
former lover. The husband is ulti¬ 
mately killed, and she is left free. 

Maud’s Peril. 4 Acts. By Watts 
Phillips. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 4 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Tragedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

2 Old Men; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. 
Maud marries Sir Richard Challorier, 
to save her father's estates, having been 
told that her lover was dead. The 
lover’s return forms the subject of the 
play. 

May ( or Dolly’s Delusion. 3 Acts. 
By R. Reece. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Interior and 1 Exterior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 3 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies. Dolly Grant is 
adopted by her uncle. Farmer Heath, 
and is courted by three brothers. She 
favours the eldest, Joe Solly. Julian 
Rothsay, in order to excite the jealousy 
of Edith Landsdell, prevails upon Dolly 
to act a love scene with him. This 
causes the farmer to forbid Dolly the 
house. Dolly then marries Joe. The 
farmer, learning that the above love 
scene was a planned affair, all are 
happily reunited. 

Old Score. (Comedy-Drama.) 3 Acts. 
By W. S. Gilbert. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Jew; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman. Colonel Calthorpe, an indi¬ 
vidual of doubtful character, and in 
money difficulties, has formerly been 
the cause of making James Casby’s 
fortune in India. The Colonel continu¬ 
ally reminds him of this, and obtains 
various sums of money from him until 
Casby refuses to lend any more. The 
Colonel suddenly comes into an estate 
worth £15,000 a year and the title of 
Lord Ovington. when Casby is treated 
with contempt, but the latter is en¬ 
abled to pay back the old score by 
destroying two forged bills in his pos¬ 
session which would have consigned 
Lord Ovington to a felon’s dock: 
Casby then marries Lord Ovington’s 
niece. 


Poor Nobleman. 2 Acts. By Charles 

Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 
50 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Cid 
Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Utility, the Marquis de Belleterre is 
a poor nobleman. He has a daughter 
Horte;ise, who is beloved by Oscar, the 
son of Robineau, who, however, will 
not give his consent to the marriage, 
as Hortense has not a dowry, Robineau 
thinking that the Marquis will not 
part with his money. The Marquis is 
sold up, and they all meet afterwards 
in the chateau formerly belonging to 
the Marquis, but now in possession of 
a rich widow. The Marquis appears as 
a piano-tuner, and the daughter as a 
lace-seller, and Robineau, discovering 
the true state of affairs, then gives his 
consent. 

A Acts. By Arthur Shirley. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 
Interior Scenes; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Child; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Rafael di Rivola, an Italian 
artist, endeavours to persuade the wife 
of George Fane to elope with him. 
Her sister, a lively widow, helped by a 
young swell who is not such a fool as 
his outward appearance would indicate, 
together succeed in bringing back the 
runaway lady, and drive away the for¬ 
eigner from the home he would destroy. 

sl ’jP , TJ a -^ e8 ' Comedy-Drama.) 3 Acta. 
By C. V. Bngman. Modern Costume. 
Time. 2 hours. 1 Old Man; 2 Juvenile 
Gentlemen; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come- 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
v\ alkmg Ladies. Col. Eversley has a 
son, Charles, whose shipmate is Frank 
Chumleigh, who saves Charles’ life at 
sea. Frank is in love with Charles’ 
sister Jeannie, but she is betrothed to 
Frank’s cousin, Sir Henry Softon. It 
transpires that Sir Henry has swindled 
Frank out of his inheritance, and on 
this being discovered Frank is enabled 
to secure Jeannie. 

W £ nt ^ rf V l Woman> (Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By Charles Dance. Powder Costume, 
period 1770-80. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Juvenile; 1 Walking 
Gentleman' 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 V. alking 
Lady; 1 Utility. Madame Hortense 
Bertrand, a wealthy widow, offers ber 
hand to the impecunious Marquis de 
Frontignac if he will introduce her 
into society. He accepts, but imme¬ 
diately after the ceremony she leaves 
him as she only desired his name. In 
order to shame her, the Marquis sets 
up a stall outside her chateau as a 
cobbler; this has the desired effect in 

husband and wife to court 
each other. 


99 


FINE CHARACTERS, 


TRAGEDY. 


Medea. 3 Acts. Adapted by M. Heron. 
Grecian Costumes of the Classic Era. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Tra¬ 
gedian; 2 Children; 1 Utility; 1 Lady 
Tragedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Utility. Jason, a Greek soldier, is 


about to marry Creasa the King’* 

daughter, when Medea, his deserted 
wife, and her two childrsn arrive and 
denounce him. Medea is banished, 
but causes Creusa to be poisoned, and 
stabs herself and children. 


SEVEN MALES AND TWO FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Artful Dodge. 1 Act. By E. L. 

Blanchard. Modem Costume. Time, 
65 min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 

1 Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Light Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. The Hon. 
Frederick Flamwell Fitz Fudge is 
deeply in debt, and also deeply in love 
with Miss Emily Wilton. A consulta¬ 
tion ensues with her guardian, who 
will not consent unless he can arrange 
a meeting with Fitz Fudge’s father, 
who, however, does not exist; but 
subsequently he finds a parent in Mr 
Demosthenes Dodge, who undertakes 
tc personate that gentleman. 

Dodge for a Dinner. 1 Act. By T. 
A. Palmer. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

2 Low Comedians; 3 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Two 
gentlemen who are very hard up arrive 
at an inn; the farce shows the dodge 
they plan for a dinner. 

Illustrious Stranger. 1 Act. By 
Kenney and Millingen. Chinese Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 

1 Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; - 2 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; and 
Supeis. A sailor is wrecked on the 
coast of Malabar, and seized by the 
natives and betrothed to the Princess, 
who afterwards being reported dead, 
he is to be buried alive in accordance 
with their laws. He is rescued by 
the re-appearance of the Princess with 
her lover, who had been banished. 

John Jones. 1 Act. By J. B. Buck- 
stone. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 4 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Guy Goodluck 
has an evil genius in a Mr. John 
Jones, who dishonours the acceptances ' 
held by the former, knocks him out of 
a gig by accident, comes into an estate 
be is heir to, and marries the girl he 
is engaged to. 

Raising the Wind. 1 Act. By James 
Kenny. Costume 1803 or Modern. 
Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman: 1 Old Man; 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Utility Gentlemen; 1 


Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Often 
known under the title of “ Jeremy 
Diddler,” who is an impecunious in¬ 
dividual living on his wits. Mr. Fain¬ 
way visits Mr. Plainway with a view 
to marrying his daughter. Jeremy 
Diddler manages to impersonate him, 
and carries off the lady himself; lastly 
he comes into a fortune. 

Slight Mistakes. 1 Act. By J. Mad- 

dison. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. 
Woodpecker looks after everybody's 
business but his own, and his one ob¬ 
ject in life is to make himself agree¬ 
able. His friend Baxter is about to bt 
married, and he causes immense con¬ 
fusion by his blunders, which he terms 
“ Slight Mistakes.” 

Suit of Tweeds. 1 Act. By F. Hay. 

Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Man; 4 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Lionel Loafall is fleeing from 
Tweed, his tailor and creditor. He 
enters the apartment of Old Barter, 
who mistakes him for his nephew, 
whom he expects, and introduces him 
to his daughter. Dick Wurzell, the 
nephew, a rustic individual, arrives 
and the artifices employed by Lionel 
are described in a most humorous 
manner. 

Weathercock. 1 Act. By J. T. 
Allingham. Old-fashioned Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. An 
elderly gentleman is blessed with a 
son who cannot fix his mind to any¬ 
thing. being as changeable as a 
weathercock. The only doctor who 
cures him is a young lady whom he 
marries. 

Wilful Murder. 1 Act. By Thomas 

Higgie. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man 1 Irish Servant; 3 Utility; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
Pythagoras Spoon believes that h« 


WINE CHARACTERS. 


93 


has driven over and killed a man. It 

is suggested that in such cases a mar¬ 
ried man is let off more easily, f.nd he 
is persuaded to let his rival imper¬ 
sonate him, and marry old Consol’s 


wealthy ward, but afterwards learns 
that the individual he thought he had 
killed was unhurt, tnus sacrificing his 
love and identity needlessly. 


COMEDIES. 


Debt. (Farcical.) 2 Acts. By E. A. de 
Pass. Modern Costume. Time, 1 

hour. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Lighi 

Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. The Hon. 

Tom Deepindet is always in debt. On 
his wedding morning is described how 
the lady whom he was about to marry 
for her money turns <?ut to be a myth, 
and how he comes into a title and 
marries the lady he had fallen in love 
with. 

Marriage of Convenience. 4 Acts. 

By Sydney Grundy. Is. Costume, 
Period 1750. Time, 2£ hours. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Low Comedian; 4 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. An 
elderly veteran has made a marriage of 
convenience between his nephews the 
Comte de Candale, and the latter’s 
cousin. Husband and wife have had 
affairs of the heart elsewhere. They 
gradually abandon their former lover3, 
and soon reach the goal of mutual 
affection. 

M.P. 4 Acts. By T. W. Robertson. 1*. 
Modern Costume. Time, 21 hours. 1 
Exterior and 2 Interior Scenes; 2 
Comedians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 3 
Utility: 2 Walking Ladies. Duns- 
combe Dunscombe is hopelessly insol¬ 
vent. He desires his son, Chudleigh, 
to marry his niece, Cecilia, who ha3 
money but Cecilia has a lover in Tal¬ 
bot Piers, w’ho is standing for the 
borough. Dunscombe invites Isaak 
Skoome, a capitalist, who brings with 
him a pretty Quakeress, Ruth Dey- 
brooke, with whom Chudleigh falls in 
love, and afterwards secretly marries. 
The electors want bribing, which Tal¬ 
bot abhors, so the rich Skoome is in¬ 
duced to be put up for election. He is 
nearly successful, but Cecilia is even¬ 
tually the means of winning for her 
lover the coveted position of M.P. 


Paul Pry. 2 Acts. By W. Jerrold. 

Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 2 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 
2 Low Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 2 Old Men; 1 French¬ 
man; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Oldbutton arrives at an 
inn with his niece Laura, whom he is 
determined to marry to Sir Spankle 
Rainbow. Laura is in love with Cap¬ 
tain Haselton, but Oldbutton does not 
favour him on account of his gambling 
habits, but afterwards consents to his 
union with Laura on learning that 
Rainbow likewise gambled. All 
through the piece Paul Pry is inter¬ 
fering with everybody’s business. 

Used Up. 2 Acts. By D. Boucicault. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 10 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Old Men; 1 
Utility; 2 Lady Comedians. bir 
Charles Coldstream. W'ho is almost 
killed with ennui, in the course of his 
wanderings falls in love with a far¬ 
mer's daughter. He ; s /\t last cured 
of his w’earmess, ar v y leads the 
lady to the altar, 'i play was very 
successful, and originany played by Mr. 
Matthews. 

Vice Versa. (Farcical.) 2 Acts. Py 
Edw. Rose. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 10 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 3 
Old Men; 3 Low Comedians; l 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. This is adapted from the 
popular story of the same name. The 
play commences in Mr. Bultitude’s 
dining room, wherein is found a talis¬ 
man which grants one wish to its pos¬ 
sessor. Mr. Bultitude wishes that h, < * 
was in his son’s place going back tc 
school, and immediately his spirit 
changed into his son’s body and vice 
versa. The fun is caused by Mr. Ful¬ 
fil ude going to school, having the out¬ 
ward appearance of his son. 


DRAMAS. 


Aurora Floyd. 3 Acts. By C. H. 
Hazelwood. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 4 Exterior and 4 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 2 Tragedians; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleriran; 2 
Low Comedians: 1 Lady Tragedian; 

1 Old Woman. This is an adaptation 
of Miss Braddon’s well-known novel. 

Charles XII. 2 Acts. By J. R. Blanche. 
Swedish Costume. Time, 1 hour 40 
min. 2 Exterior and 6 Interior Scenes; 

2 Comedians; 2 Old Men; 2 Walk-ng 
Q-entVrrmn; 1 T ow Comedian; 2 WalK- 
j n <r Ladies. Major Vanburg, having 
been unjustly declared a banished 


traitor, under an assumed name carries 
on an inn. After sixteen years’ ab¬ 
sence Charles XII. returns to his capi¬ 
tal, and travelling incog, stops at the 
inn, and being assured of Vanburg’s 
innocence, and recognising in him one 
who had saved his life, he restores him 
to royal favour and makes him a 
general. 

Frederick of Prussia. ] Act. By 

Chas. Selby. Austrian and Prussian 
Costume. Time 1 hour. i Tn^vior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Gentlemen: * 


94 


NINE CHARACTERS. 


Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 "Walking 
Lady. Frederick the Great escapes to 
the house of his enemies, who have a 
comedian named Stolbach, who is fond 
of dressing up to impersonate the 
king. Frederick on being discovered 
is mistaken for Stolbach, and vice- 
versa. 

Idiot Witness. (Melodrama.) 2 Acts. 
By J. T. Haines. Elizabethan Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 Ex¬ 
terior, 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 
1 German; 1 Tragedian; 1 Juvenile 
Lead; 2 Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady. Gilbert pretends to 
be an idiot in order to bring Le Sieur 
Arnaud to justice for the crimes he 
has committed. In endeavouring to 
kill his nephew, Arnaud stabs his own 
son, and then takes his own life on 
being unmasked by Gilbert. 

Our Wife; or, The Rose of Amiens. 
(Comic.) 2 Acts. By J. M. Morton. 
Costume. Period 1634. Time, 1 hour 
30 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian: 1 Old Man; 
4 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. Count 
de Brissac is in love with Rosine, the 
daughter of a tradesman, but his 
father will not consent to the union, 
so his friend, the Marquis de Ligny, 
who has to die a soldier’s death to save 
him from the scaffold, marries her, so 
that when he dies Brissac can marry 
her as a Marchioness. A pardon ar¬ 
rives for De Ligny, and as Rosine loves 
him, they remain husband and wife, 
and Brissac has to seek consolation 
elsewhere. 

Plot and Passion. 3 Acts. By Tom 
Taylor. Costume, period 1810. Time, 


2 hours 45 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Tragedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Trage¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Marie de Fon- 
tanges and Desmarets are spies in the 
pay of Fouche, the Minister of the 
Police. Henri de Neuville has "been 
writing pamphlets against Fouche, and 
falls into his hands, but, with the aid 
of Desmarets, who has inspired the 
articles, he escapes to Prague. Fouche 
sends Marie to decoy him back, but 
they mutually fall in love, and Marie, 
in the hope of saving him, returns to 
Paris to intercede with Fouche. Henri 
follows her, and is in imminent dan¬ 
ger, when Fouche’s treachery is dis¬ 
covered, and he is dismissed from his 
office. 

Uncle Zachary. (Comic.) 2 Acts. 
By John Oxenford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Saul and Zachary 
Clench are brothers; the former aspires 
to a more fashionable existence, whilst 
Zachary is contented with a homely 
life. Saul removes to London, and his 
daughter becomes engaged to a wealthy 
suitor. Zachary goes uninvited to the 
wedding, with his wife, but his man¬ 
ners are regarded with horror by the 
family into which his niece is about 
to marry, and the engagement is nearly 
broken off. Zachary is eventually the 
means of saving his brother from ruin 
and securing happiness to all. 


EIGHT MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 
COMEDY. 


New Sub. 1 Act. By Seymour Hicks. 
Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Young Darlington, the new sub., 
is subjected to the practical jokes of 


his brother officers. One of them 
makes an offensive remark about Dar¬ 
lington’s mother, which results in a 
duel. The pistols are harmless, but 
Darlington falls, overcome by faint¬ 
ness. The incident is followed ny the 
mother being reunited to her old lover, 
who is the Major of the regiment. 


dramas. 


Dan’l Druce. 3 Acts. By W. S. Gil¬ 
bert. Costume, Charles I. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 2 Interior and 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Eccen¬ 
tric Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 4 
Utility; 1 Juvenile Leading Lady. 
Dan’l Druce, who had been forsaken 
by-his wife, has a child left in Irs hut 
by a fugitive Royalist. He brings this 
child up, and 14 years after, the Royal¬ 
ist. being reinstated, the child is 
claimed. Dan’l Druce discovers to his 
joy that the child is his own daughter. 

Sybilla. 3 Acts. By J. P. Simpson. 
Costume, Denmark, commencement of 
the 18th century. Time, 2 hours 30 
min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 
1 Tragedian; 2 Old Men; 2 Walking 


Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. A young girl tries to obtain the 
King’s pardon for her imprisoned 
father, falsely accused of treason. Step 
by step she overcomes all obstacles. 

Two Galley Slaves. (Melddrama.) 2 
Acts. By J. H. Payne. Old-fashioned 
Country Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 
mm. 1 Exterior and 2 Interior Scenes; 
4 Comedians; 1 Tragedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Juvenile; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; and supers. Henry, 
who has been unjustly accused, has 
served as a Galley Slave. One of hie 
fellow prisoners, who has escaped, 
appears and blackmails him. This pri¬ 
soner gets arrested, and Henry’a i^ nr 
cence is established. 


TEN CHARACTERS, 


95 


TEN CHARACTERS. 


TWO MALES AND EIGHT FEMALES. 
FARCE. 


How's Your Uncle? 1 Act. By T. 

E. Wilkes. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. Scene, a court surrounded with 
houses; but where this cannot be man¬ 
aged an ordinary street scene would 
do; 2 Low Comedians; 8 Walking 
Ladies. Very good and short piece. 


Mr. Wiggs, a barber, hears from hi* 
friend that an uncle has left £700 to 
one of the ladies in the neighbourhood. 
Not knowing which one it is he pro¬ 
poses to all of them. The ladies, in 
retaliation, try him by court-martial in 
a very ludicrous manner. 


THREE MALES AND SEVEN FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Wanted, 1,000 Milliners. 1 Act. By 
J. Stirling Coyne. Extravagant 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 
Office Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 7 Chambermaids. A solicitor's 
clerk, by a fictitious letter, gets his 


master away from office, and issues 
placards with the above advertisement. 
The arrival of the milliners and the 
unexpected return of the master form 
an amusing denouement to this farce. 


FOUR MALES AND SIX FEMALES 
COMEDIES. 


My Wife’s Relations. 1 Act. By 

W. Gordon. Modern Costume. Time, 
43 m n. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 3 Old Women; 1 Walking Lady: 
1 Utility. Mr. Arthur Lambe is much 


annoyed at the way his wife’s relations 
impose upon him. He alarms his wife 
by proposing that his cousin with six 
children should reside with them. This 
cousin is really his sister, but the 
stratagem cures his wife, who admits 
she deserves the reproof administered 
to her. 


FIVE MALES AND FIVE FEMALES 
COMEDIES. 


Cleft Stick. 3 Acts. By John Oxen- 
ford. Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 
3 Interior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 2 Cham¬ 
bermaids. Mr. Carnaby Fix, unknown 
to his wife and mother-in-law, has en¬ 
tertained a lady at Cremorne. H s 
friend. Timothy Tickleback, intimates 
he cannot agree with his wife, and 
they have separated. Timothy Tickle- 
back’s wife happens to be the lady Fix 
had entertained, and through this inci¬ 
dent Timothy and his wife are after¬ 
wards reconciled when they accident¬ 
ally meet at Fix’s country residence. 

Engaged. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By W. 
S. Gilbert. Modern Costume. Time. 2 
hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 4 Comedians: 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 3 Walking Ladies; 1 O’d 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. The plot 
turns on the Scotch marriage lawn. 


Certain avowals have been made in a 
garden of a cottage at Gretna, and the 
parties are not aware whether they 
are married or not. The question is 
finally settled by receiving authentic 
information that the cottage is in Eng¬ 
land, but the garden in which the 
avowal was made is in Scotland. 


Married Life. 3 Acts. By J. B. 
Buckstone. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 6 Interior Scenes; 5 Come¬ 
dians; 5 Lady Comedians. This amus¬ 
ing play deals with the quarrels, sus¬ 
picions, and jealousies of 5 married 
couples. The tableaux are very funny, 
and finally there is a general recon¬ 
ciliation. 

Merry Widow. 2 Acts. By Leicester 
Buck'n<rh*»m. Modern Costume. Time 
1 hour la min. 2 Interior Scene®; 1 


9G 


TEN - CHARACTERS 


Old Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 
Old "Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. A widow 
assumes a vivacious life in order that 
her late husband’s mother mav not be 
acquainted with his death. The hus¬ 
band is ultimately discovered not to 
have been killed, as was supposed, and 
a satisfactory denouement is attained. 

Mi ss Hobbs. Is. 6d. 4 Acts. By J. 

K. Jerome. Modern Costume. Time, 
2i hours. 1 Cabin; 2 Interior Scenes; 
1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman: 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 3 Walking Ladies; 1 Utility. 
Miss Hobbs despises men, and encour¬ 
ages Mrs. Percival Kingsearl in her 
opposition to her husband’s wishes, 
which ends in her leaving her husband 
and going to stay with Miss Hobbs. 
Woolf Kingsearl, a relative of Perc'val, 
has made a bet he will kiss Miss Hobbs 
within a month. Miss Hobbs mistakes 
him for Percival, and endeavours to 
prove what a brute he is by letting 
Mrs. Kingsearl witness a flirtation with 
her. She finds she has got hold of the 
wrong man, and is afterwards won by 
Woolf after being thoroughly tamed 
bv him in an amusing yacht scene, 
where he pretends the vessel is drifting 
away in a fog. 

My Preserver. 1 Act. By H. T. 

Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Chambermaids; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Lady. A capital piece, and 
very amusing. A rich and romantic 
young lady is saved from drowm’ng, 
and she declares she will marry her 
preserver. A ploughboy and a penni¬ 
less young gentleman both seem en¬ 
titled to the privilege, and great fun is 
extracted by the contrast of the two. 

Old Story. 2 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 
min. 1 Interior Scene throughout; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Utility; 3 Old Women; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Utility. Three 
spinsters try to induce a rich old 
bachelor to marry them,, but tney 
desert him on learning he is a ruined 
man. There is plenty of fun in the 
piece combined with interest. 


Playing - with Fire. R Acts. By J 

Brougham. Modern Costume. Time, 
3 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Come¬ 
dians: 1 Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 

1 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. 
Mr. and Mrs. Waverly are happily 
married, but find it monotonous, so 
they visit Dr. and Mrs. Savage and 
seek their advice. They are recom¬ 
mended to have a harmless game of 
domestic jealousy. Mr. Waverly flirts 
wnth Mrs. Savage, and the Doctor with 
Mrs. Waverly. This has the desired 
effect of curing the pair, and they are 
glad to return to their former state. 

Poor Old Perkins. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. 
By Percival Sykes. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2£ hours: 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 Old Women; 

2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Poor old Perkins is terribly tyrannised 
over by his wife, who is determined 
their daughter shall marry a literary 
man, and favours a certain celebrated 
Itah’an poet, whom she has not seen. 
Both the daughter and their niece con¬ 
ceive the same idea to get their lovers 
to assume the character of the Poet. 
The real Poet appears, and poor old 
Perkins gets mixed up with the three 
in a most inglorious muddle. The 
Poet is proved to be a humbug, and the 
parents agree to the union of the 
lovers. 

Silver Shield. 3 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 
21 hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Comedians; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men ; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady: 1 Chamber¬ 
maid; 1 Utility. Ned Chetwynd has 
married in opposition to his father’s 
wishes, and is disinherited. Sir Hum¬ 
phrey Chetwynd, his father, proposes 
to Alma Blake, an actress from Aus¬ 
tralia, but is refused as she is married 
to Tom Potter, though separated. A 
picture, however, of the knights who 
fought about the colour of a shie'd, 
and were both right from their point 
of view, brings about a general recon¬ 
ciliation. father and son agreeing that 
their differences are not worth quarrel¬ 
ing over. 

Walker, London. See MS. plays. 


DRAMAS. 


Cricket on the Hearth. 3 Acts. 
Country Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 
rain. 2 Interior Scenes: 2 Comedians; 

2 Low Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 L"dy 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies; 1 Old Woman. This is an 
adaptation of Charles Dickens’ popular 
story. 

Hidden Hand. 4 Acts. Costume, 
Period 1685. ^ime, 2 hours 30 min. 

3 Interiors. "Exterior Scene; 3 
Comedians; 1 Tragedian; Walking 
Gentleman; I Old Woman; 1 Lady 


Comedian • 2 Juvenile Ladies; l 

Walking Lady. Lord Penarvon has 
been twice married, and has a daughter 
by each wife. The mother of the first 
wife secretly administers poison to 
daughter of the second wife, in order 
that her own grandchild should inherit 
the property. Her plans are thwarted 
and she takes the poison herself, 


TEN CHARACTERS 


97 


SIX MALES AND FOUR FEMALES 
FARCES. 


My Fellow Clerk. 1 Act. By ,J. 
Oxenford. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old 
Men: 1 Low Comedian; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Walking Lady; 2 Utility. Mr. 
Tactic always manages to make Lis 
fellow clerk, Mr. Victim, suffer for the 
frivolities of the former. 

Regular Fix. 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Old Man; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 2 Old Women; 1 Walking 


L&dy; 1 Chambermaid. Mr. Surplus 
having given a grand party. Mr. Hugh 
de Brass is discovered next morning 
asleep in an armchair. This gentle¬ 
man has not the slightest idea how he 
came there. He sees a sheriff’s officer 
opposite, evidently waiting for him, 
and he is in a regular fix how to ac¬ 
count for himself, as he dare not leave 
the house. A most amusing scene fol¬ 
lows, and he is only rescued from his 
dilemma by the intelligence that a 
Baronetcy and £7,000 a year left to 
him. 


COMEDIES 


dal loon. 3 Acts. By Darnley and 
Fenn. Modern Costume. Time, 2i 

hours. 1 Interior Scene throughout; 

2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian: 1 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Lady 
Comedian: 1 Old Woman. Capital 
play, highly recommended. Dr. Glynn 
is on the eve of his marriage with 
Grace Wentworth. He is visited by 
Captain Cameron, who informs him 
that he is going to cross the Channel 
in a balloon. Mrs. Rippendale, with 
whom Glynn has had a previous 
flirtation, also calls, and threatens 
breach of promise action. In conse¬ 
quence of Cameron changing the posi¬ 
tion of a bottle. Glynn imagines he has 
administered a dose of strychnine to 
the aunt of his intended, and further 
troubles following, he rushes off and 
ascends in the balloon by himself, 
which is afterwards reported lost. He 
is, hov/ever. saved, and suitable ex¬ 
planations follow. 

Brixton Burglary. 3 Acts. By Fred 
W. Sidney. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout. 3 Comedians; 2 

Walking Gentlemen; 1 Character 
part; 2 Lady Comedians; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Septimus Pontifex, in his 
wife’s absence, gives a supper to two 
ladies. Accidents happen, and he is 
kept away from home till morning. 
His servants discover this, and en¬ 
deavour to blackmail him. His man¬ 
servant has been caught by a burglar 
and forced to exchange clothes. Sus¬ 
picion of a burglary then falls on the 
man-servant, and general complica¬ 
tions ensue. The real burglar is 
arrested, confesses everything, and 
Septimus is enabled to keep the secret 
of the supper from his wife. 

Confusion, la. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By 
Joseph Derrick. Modern Costume. 
Time. 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 2 Old Men; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chambermaid; 2 Lady Comedians. 


Rose Mumbleford, who has recently 
married, is most anxious to have a dog, 
but her husband strongly objects. Her 
uncle Blizzard promises, however, to 
bring her down one, and they hope to 
be able to induce the husband to give 
his consent. Maria and James, a 
married couple with a baby, have pro¬ 
cured situations as servants in the 
house on the understanding that they 
were both single. The baby is taken 
ill, and Maria fetches it to the house 
just about the time that Blizzard re¬ 
turns with a basket containing the 
dog, and the baby and the dog are 
mixed up in a most amusing manner. 

Country Mouse. 3 Acts. By Arthur 
Law. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes: 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Comedians; 1 Utility; 1 
Light Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 

3 Walking Ladies. Angela Muir comes 
to town on a visit to friends. Tier 
pretty face captivates the hearts of all 
the men, much to the indignation of 
the women in the house. They each 
endeavour to frustrate her objects and 
hold her up to ridicule. She manages, 
however, to hold her own, and marriej 
a duke. 

The Girls. 3 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
Modern Costume. Time, 21 hours. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian • 2 Come¬ 
dians; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Mabel and Clara are half-sisters. Mabel 
marries Plantagenet Potter for money, 
while Clara marries Tony Hudson for 
love. Potter is ruined and discards 
his wife, who goes to live with Tony 
and Clara. After two years Potter re¬ 
turns repentant, and hears that a rick 
uncle will befriend him. 

Glass of Water. 2 Acts. By W E. 
Suter. Queen Anne Cc3tume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 2 Wallu'ng Gentlemen: 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 3 Lad? Come¬ 
dians; 1 Chan b< maid. There is 
rivalry between Lord R«)in<tbrik* and 


9T 


TBIT CHARACTERS 


the Duchess of Marlborough for influ¬ 
ence with Queen Anne. The Queen 
and Duchess. unknown to each other, 
are rivals for the affections of Arnold 
Vavasour, with whom the Queen has 
arranged as a signal for a private in¬ 
terview to ask for a glass of water. 
The Duchess discovering this, spills the 
water over the Queen’s robe, which 
leads to a quarrel, ending in the over¬ 
throw of the power of the Duke and 
Duchess, the happy union of Vavasour 
and Alina Churchill, and the triumph 
of their friend, Lord Bolingbroke. 

Hurly Burly. 3 Acts. By Herman 
Hendriks. Modern Costume. Time, 

2| hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 

Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman: 1 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. This play chiefly deals 
with the difficulties experienced by a 
country gentleman, whose wife fondly 
imagines him to be a poet. He gets 
into the hands of a literary blackleg, 
and pays dearly for the acquaintance¬ 
ship. His daughter having a picture 
of herself with a greyhound exhibited 
at the G-rosvenor Gallery, a Russian 
prince seeks after the original, and 
much amusement is caused by the 
mother thinking her daughter is about 
to wed a prince, and then learning it 
was the dog he was inquiring after. 


Liberty Hall. Is. 6d. (Comedy-drama.) 
4 Acts. By R. C. Carton. Modern 
Costume. Time. 2£ hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Character 
Part; 1 Boy; 2 Lady Comedians; 2 
Old Women. Blanche and Amy Chil- 
worth, by the death of their father, are 
left penniless, the money and estates 
all passing to their cousin, Sir Hartley 
Chilworth, whom they have never seen. 
They go and live with an old uncle of 
theirs by marriage, who keeps a second¬ 
hand bookshop in Bloomsbury. Sir 
Hartley, calling himself Mr. Owen, 
lodges at the same house, and pre¬ 
tends to be a commercial traveller. 
Blanche despises him for being in 
trade, but eventually falls in love with 
him, when he discloses himself. 

Lover by Proxy. 1 Act. By Dion 
Boucicault. Modern Costume. Time, 
55 min. 2 Interior. 1 Exterior Scene: 
1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Utility, 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Utility. Mr. Blushington 
gets his friend Lawless to act the lover 
by proxy for him as he is too bashful 
to propose himself. Bhishington then 
gets enraged because he thinks Lawless 
has proposed to the lady on his own 
behalf, whereas he becomes engaged to 
the sister. 

My Solrtier Boy. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. 
By Alfred Maltby and Frank Lindo. 
Modern Costume and Uniform. Tim®, 


24 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 
2 Walking Gentlemen: 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Mr. Toddenham is determined 
that his stepson shall remain a 
bachelor and enter the army. The step¬ 
son, Montague Mendle, marries and be¬ 
comes a solicitor. As Toddenham, 
however, is supposed to be dying at 
the other end of the world, Mendle 
writes him that he has entered the 
army, and become colonel of a 
cavalry regiment. Toddenham turns 
up unexpectedly, and Mendle has to 
borrow a uniform, and a riot taking 
place the soldiers are called out, and 
he leads the charge. The deception is 
discovered, and Toddenham is very 
glad to find his stepson a lawyer, who 
can assist him in recovering some of 
. his lost fortune. 

Our Boys. 3 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 

Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 
Interior Scenes: 1 Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian; a Leading Juveniles; 2 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Two sons 
are discarded by their respective 
fathers in consequence of settling 
their love affairs for themselves. The 
fathers afterwards visit them in their 
lodgings, and find them in very poor 
circumstances. A reconciliation even¬ 
tually takes place. This is one of the 
most successful comedies ever written, 
and had the longest run of any piece 
on record with the exception of 
“ Charley’s Aunt.” 

Our Regiment. 3 Acts. By H. 

Hamilton. Modern Costumes (most'y 
military). Time, 2| hours. 2 Interior, 
1 Exterior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 
Light Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 3 Walking Ladies. Mr. Dob¬ 
son has great antipathy to the military. 
His wife holds opposite opinions. He 
has a daughter and niece, and two 
officers of the Lancers visit him, who 
of course fall in love with the two 
young ladies. There is also a Rev. 
John Talbot, who falls in love with the 
niece of Mr. Ellaby. Dobson’s friend, 
but an ardent admirer of the army. 
Talbot gives up the Church and joins 
the regiment to obtain the object of 
his affections 

Paper Chase. 3 Acts. By Charles 

Thomas. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 

1 Tow Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 

2 Utility; 3 Walking Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. This play deals with the 
vicissitudes of a recipe for curry 
powder, to the owner of which is be¬ 
queathed a large sum of money. After 
many adventures it is restored to its 
rightful owner. 


TEN CHARACTERS 


Tom Cobb. 3 Acts. By W. S. Gilbert. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 
1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies; I Utility. 
Tom Cobb, at the instigation of his 
friend Whipple, pretends to be dead in 
order to escape from his creditors. H# 
makes a will and leaves everything to 
Matilda, daughter of Colonel O’Fipp, 
in whose house he has been lodging. 
Tom is unexpectedly left a fortune, 
which is taken possession of by the 
Colonel, and Tom has great difficult* 
in recovering it. 


DRAMAS 

Bow Bells. (Comic.) 8 Acts. By H. 

J. Byron. Modern Costume. Time. 

2 hours 15 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 

2 Walking Ladies: 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Old Woman. Mr. G : Twinklehorn, 
having retired from business, longs for 
peace, purity, and contentment in the 
country. He rejects the lovers of his 
two nieces, and takes the latter with 
him to a most primitive and rural re¬ 
treat. He, however, fails in bettering 
his lot. and finally accepts the lovers 
for his nieces, and is glad to go back 
within the hearing of Bow Bells. 

First Mate. 2 Acts. By Richard 
Henry. Modern Costume. Time, H 
hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 3 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Utility. Letty Lansdell is 
engaged to Jack Braddock, who is 
away at sea. A lawyer named Brog- 
den falls in love with her. Letty re¬ 
fuses him, and he, having a bill of 
sale on her belongings, threatens to 
sell her up. She is saved by Jack’s 
sister utilising £ 100 he had left behind 
him. Jack’s father had relied on this 
money to pay Brogden his rent, and ha 
in turn is threatened by the lawyer, 
who. however, afterwards repents his 
conduct. Jack then happily returns, 
after having been reported dead. 

Harvest. Prologue and 3 Acts. By 
H. Hamilton. Modern Costume. Time, 

3 hours. 2 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 

2 Old Men; 1 Comedian: 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Child; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walkin 
Ladies. A beautifully written an 
pathetic play. Noel Musgrave, hav¬ 
ing married according to Scotch law, 
discovers that the ceremony took place 
on English soil. He deserts his wife 
and son. and marries the Widow Vane, 
who dies, leaving a daughter, Lettice 
Vane. After 20 years his son Meets 


99 

Tragedy. 3 Acts. By C. 8. Fawcett. 

Modern Costume. Time, 2| hours. 9 
Interior Scenes; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Boy; 1 Old Woman; 
2 Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. 
Mr. Gregory Graysin, a barrister, 
writes a tragedy unknown to his wife 
and mother-in-law. He engages a 
tragedian and the wife of a jea.ous 
husband to produce the piece, and this 
leads him into all sorts of troubles, 
from which he has great difficulty in 
extricating himself. 


Lettice Vane, and they fall fn T 
with each other, and Noel and his wife 
are eventually re-united. 

My Sweetheart. (Musical Comio 
Drama.) 3 Acts. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Singing Comedian; 2 Come¬ 
dians: 3 Low Comedians; 1 Singing 
Chambermaid; 1 Adventuress; 1 Old 
Woman; 3 or 4 small Children. Tony 
Faust, a young German, is staying at 
a farm in Pennsylvania, and is in love 
with Tina, the farmer’s daughter. Mrs. 
Fleeter, an adventuress, has designs on 
Tony, especially after he has come into 
a title and fortune. Tony removes to 
New York, and is on the point of 
marrying Mrs. Fleeter when her hus¬ 
band, whom she thought dead, turns 
up unexpectedly. - Tony returns to the 
farm, and is reconciled to Tina. 

Our Nelly. 2 Acts. By H. T. Craven. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Old Man; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 2 Old 
Women; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. A country girl unexpectedly 
comes into some property, and is im¬ 
mediately besieged by mercenary ad¬ 
mirers. She, however, fortunately 
selects an^honest man. 

Ready Money. 4 Acts. By Walter 
Maurice and Jas. Rice. Modern Co®, 
tume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
2 Tragedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
2 Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Old 
Mortiboy is a miserly banker who has 
turned his spendthrift son, Dick, out 
of doors. Twelve years later Dick 
returns with Alcide Lafleur, an adven¬ 
turer. Dick makes out he is now rich, 
and old Mortiboy executes a deed o' 
gift giving all his property to him 
Dick and Lafleur then quarrel, and 
the latter kills the former by shooting 
buBs - _ 


100 


TEN CHARACTERS 


SEVEN MALES AND THREE FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Capt. Charlotte. 2 Acts. By E. 

Sterling. Eany French Military Cos- 
turtle. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 4 Utility; 2 Cady 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. Char¬ 

lotte Ciopier, a milliner, follows St. 
Leon, the favourite of the Duchess 
Maria, and, in order to save his repu¬ 
tation, she dresses as a page. After¬ 
wards, while she has this costume on, 
it is necessary to appear as a woman 
to save the reputation of the duchess. 

Hit Him, He has No Friends. 1 
Act. By E. Yates and N. H. Harring¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 
1 Interior Scene- 2 Low Comedians; 
1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Utility; 
1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Utility. Describes the misfortunes of 
Mr. Kicketts, who is mistaken for a 
lunatic at an inn. 

Miss Cleopatra. 3 Acts. By Arthur 
Shirley. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 LigM 
Comedians; 4 Low Comedians; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Edwin Vane is on the po nt 
at marrying Milly Hawkins, the 


daughter of a rich retired pork butcher. 
Miss Cleopatra Collins, to whom he 
was previously engaged, hears of this, 
and appears on the scene in the guise 
of Mrs. Jellicoe, Edwin’s sister from 
America. She carries on as a raving 
lunatic, but matters are settled in the 
end by Milly becoming engaged to 
Bob Lupton, and Edwin returns to his 
first iove. 

Narrow Squeak (A). 1 Act. By J. 
M. Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene- 1 Low 
Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 4 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Utility. 
Mr. Triptolemus Topknot, while bath¬ 
ing, has his clothes exchanged by a 
convict, and appearing in the dress of 
the latter, has a narrow squeak of 
being arrested. 

The Review; or, The Wags of 
Windsor. 1 Act. By Geo. Coleman. 
Early English Costume. Time, 1 hour. 
3 Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Low Comedians; 
2 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Utility. Capt. Beaugard 
manages to get a young Quakeress 
from the custody of her guardian. 


COMEDIES. 


Docs He Love Me? 3 Acts. By E. 
Falconer. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 
2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 3 
Utility; 2 Juvenile Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman. A young heiress, in order to 
test the love of her intended husband, 
gets her cousin to assume her name, 
while she impersonates her com¬ 
panion. 

False and Constant. 2 Acts. By J. 

Lunn. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
1 Old Man; .1 Comedian; 1 Light 
Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Mr. Fairport has a daughter, 
Charlotte, and a niece, Arabelle, and 
he wants to provide husbands of his 
own selection for them. They, how¬ 
ever, have their own lovers. Char¬ 
lotte’s lover proves false, and she 
marries the suitor her father desires; 
whilst krabelle’s lovo is constant, and 
eventually obtains her hand. 


Friend in Need. 2 Acts. By 8. 

French and W. J. Sorrell. Modern 
Costume. Time. 1 hour 40 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene throughout; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Tragedian; 

1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies; 1 Utility. Mr. Bedford 
has gambled away the money of his 
ward, Charles Hastings, and wishes 
his daughter Ada to marry him. Ada 
has her own lover in Cuthbert Leslie. 
In order to save her father she ac¬ 
cepts Charles, whom she eventually 
marries, a friend proving that Cuthbert 
is quite unworthy of her. 

His Own Guest. 3 Acts. By Arthur 
Ayers and Paul Blake. Modern Cos- 
tumg. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenil® 
Lead; 2 Old Men; 1 Low Comedian; 

2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Ladies. Sir Francis Meredith, 
who had left England 20 years ago 
under a cloud, returns, and learns that 
ms stepmother is endeavouring to pul 
her own son in bis place. He assmar* 


TEW CHARACTERS, 


101 


the name of Captain Gordon, and ob¬ 
tains an invitation to the house, being 
literally “ His Own Guest,” and is 
finally enabled to establish his rights. 


My Heart’s Idol. 2 Acts. By J. R. 
Planche. German Costume; period, 
1750. Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 2 Light Comedians; 2 
Comedians; 3 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady. Count Leo¬ 
pold von Kahlenberg bets a thousand 
crowns he will produce some token of 
favour from Louise von Esselingen 
within 24 hours. This lady has hitherto 
returned all his letters but one. In 
winning the wager he sends a proposal 
of marriage, and unexpectedly he is 
made to marry her. After the cere¬ 
mony he flies abroad, his wife follows, 
and they are eventually reconciled to 
their fate. 

Ours. Is. 3 Acts. By T. W. Robert¬ 
son. Modern Costume. .. Time, 2i 
hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 

1 Old Man; 3 Comedians; 1 Light 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman: 

2 Walking Ladies. Next to “ Caste,' 
this may perhaps be considered the 


most successful of the Robertsonian 
comedies. Blanche Hay is rich, and 
Mary Netley is poor. The former is 
beloved by Angus McAlister, a cadet 
of a poor but noble family, and the 
latter by the wealthy Hugh Chalcot. 
These circumstances do not at first 
bring about the desired end. War is 
declared with Russia. Hugh and 
Angus go to the Crimea; the ladies 
follow, and finally become engaged to 
their two lovers. 

Retiring-. 3 Acts. By H. W. 

Williamson. Modern . Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes, 
but usually played with 2. # 2 

Comedians; 1 Old Man; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Strongly 
recommended where a play of the 
“ Our Boys ” class is required. Samuel 
Snaffles, a livery stable keeper, retires 
from business. His daughter is 
engaged to the son of a purse-proud 
stockbroker, Mr. St. Jones, who en¬ 
deavours to break off the match. 
Snaffles is then wrongfully accused of 
robbery; but, his innocence being 
established, Mr. St.. Jones afterwards 
withdraws his opposition and consent* 
to the union of the young couple. 


DRAMAS 


Aggravating Sam. (Comic.) 2 
Acts. By Mathews and Co. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Old Man; 4 Utility; 
1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Old Maid. Sam Naggins delights to 
aggravate everybody and interfere 
with their affairs. He impersonates 
the name of Peregrine Popplewig, who 
arrives from New York in order to 
marry Clara Biffin, and finally carries 
her off, much to the discomfort of the 
real Peregrine. 

Broken Toys. 2 Acts. By John 
Daly. Time, 1 hour 15 min. Modern 
Costumes. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walkins- Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Old Woman. Katherine 
Gresham is in poor circumstances. She 
does not know where her father is. 
She has two lovers, and the one she 
favours discovers her parent, who is 
now found to be wealthy. 

Charity. 4 Acts. By W. S. Gilbert. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2? hours. 
3 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Mrs. Van Brugh is 
a rich widow doing good whenever it 
is in her power. She has a daughter, 
Eve, who is engaged to a mercenary in¬ 


dividual, Frank Smalley, whose father 
does all he can to obtain Mrs. Van 
Brugh’s money, and disgrace her in 
the eyes of her neighbours. This he 
partially succeeds in doing, but is 
himself arrested for forgery, and the 
engagement between Eve and his *on 
is broken off. 

Hearts are Trumps. 3 Acts. By 

M. Lemon. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 40 min. 4 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Walk- 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Gray is a 
swindling gambler. He is devotedly 
attached to his innocent daughter, 
Mary, who is unaw-are what her father 
is. One of his dupes is a young man 
of fortune. Charles Wilmot, who falls 
in love with Mary, and she, discover¬ 
ing the life her father leads, induces 
him to reform. 

Helping- Hands. 2 Acts. By Tom 
Taylor. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 5 min. 2 Interior Scenes—a 
mean room in lodging-house, and a 
library; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 German; 1 
Jew; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid; 1 
Old Woman. Lorentz Hartmann, an 
old blind German musician, and his 
daughter, Margaret, are very badly 
off. In their absence from home a 
valuable violin is seized for rent and 


103 


TBW CHARACTERS 


sold to Lord Quaverley. Hartmann 
is heart-broken on discovering his loss, 
but Margaret’s lover, John Merton, a 
young doctor, having saved the life of 
Quaverley’s son, claims the violin as 
his reward, and restores it to Hart¬ 
mann. 

Legacy of Honour. 2 Acts. By 

E. Stirling. French Costume t 1820. 
Time, 1 hour 15 min. 4 Interior; 2 
Exterior Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Tragedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian: 

1 Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. 
The Marchioness de Rombyre desires 
her son, Alfred, to marry Helen, in 
order to secure him the latter’s estates. 
Helen is in love with Adolphe, and 
the Marchioness conspires to kill him, 
but his life is saved by an old beggar, 
who declares that Adolphe is the son 
of the Marchioness by a former 
marriage, and has been left to him 
by the father as a legacy of honour. 

Parted. (Comedy Drama.) 4 Acts. 
By Wybert Reeve. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
G-entleman; 3 Old Men; '1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

2 Walking Ladies. Victor Orme is 
in love with Elsie Lovell, whose father 
is in debt to Sprackling, the latter 
threatening to ruin the father unless 
Elsie marries him. Victor’s regi¬ 
ment is ordered on foreign service, 
and Sprackling having intercepted all 
letters, reports him dead. Just as 
Lovell’s home is about to be sold up, 
Victor returns with proofs of Sprack- 
ling’s dishonesty and forgery. 

Sister’s Penance. 3 Acts. By 
J. Taylor and A. W. Dubourg. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 


Interior Scene*; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 
Tragedian; 1 Old Man; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. Alice 
and Marion Vernon, two sisters, are 
both in love with Markham; he 
favours the latter. Alice, by changing 
a letter, leads Markham to suppose 
that Marion rejects him, and he goes 
to India. The Mutiny breaks out, 
and he saves Alioe’s life, and she 
confesses the trick she has played 
him. He makes her promise to tell 
Marion, who has married very un¬ 
happily. Marion’s husband dies, and 
she is reconciled to Markham. 

Time and the Hour. 3 Acts. By 

J. P. Simpson. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 2 Interior; 1 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Tragedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Sir Philip Deverell has in 
his early days forged some bills. To 
regain possession of them he murders 
Charles' Franklin, who was about to 
place them in the hands of the police. 
An innocent man is on the poiat of 
being arrested, when Sir Philip, in a 
sleep-walking scene, re-enacts the 
murder, and, being suddenly 
awakened, is killed by the shock. 

Won at Last. (Comedy Drama.) 3 
Acts. By Wybert Reeve. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 

1 Tragedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 

Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Chambermaid. A sister goes 
through trials and troubles to relieve 
her brother. She is won at last by 
her own lover, after her object has 
been accomplished. 


EIGHT MALES AND TWO FEMALES. 
FARCE, 


Comfortable Lodgings. 1 Act. By 

R. B. Peake. Old-fashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 3 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 3 Old Men; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian: 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Old 
Woman. Sir . Hippington Miff 
journeys to Paris to claim payment 


of a bond,, which Captain Banassu 9 
has put his name to, to oblige his 
friend, Roue. He takes what he 
hopes to be comfortable lodgings, but 
goes through extra ird ; n ary adventures 
Roue endeavour* t* the bond 

but is arrested. 


TIN CHARACTERS. 


103 


COMEDIES. 


Birth. 3 Acts. By T. W. Robert- 
son. Is. Modern Costume. Time, 2£ 
hours. 1 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 
3 Comedians; 1 Light Comedian; 4 
Utility; 2 I.ady Comedians. A bitter 
feud exists between the families of 
the Earl of Eagleclyffe and Paul 
Hewitt, a successful ii omnaster. The 
latter is, however, in love with the 
Earl’s sister. The I'.arl is ruined, and 
Paul purchases the whole of his 
estates. Paul is shot by a madman, 
and the workpeople, concluding that 
it is the work of the Earl, are about 
to wreak their vengeance upon him, 
when he is saved Jr.v Sarah Hewitt, 
Paul’s sister, with whom he falls in 
love. The Earl then causes the feud 
to cease by marrying Sarah, and con¬ 
senting to the betrothal of his sister 
with Paul. 

Progress. 3 Acts. By T. W. 
Robertson. Is. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2J hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 
Old Men; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility: 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Eva is living with her 
uncle, the proud Lord Mompesson, 
and his son Arthur, who are both ad¬ 
vanced in years. Arthur regards hi3 
cousin as his future wife, but she is 
in love with a young engineer, John 
Feme. Eva is taken ill, and the 
doctor perceives she can only be 
restored by securing her happiness 
with John Feme, and the latter, 
overcoming the prejudices of the 
patricians, gains Eva for his wife. 


She Would and He Wouldn’t. i 

Acts. By J. M. Morton. Costume, 
1660 Period. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady; and supers. 
The Marchioness di Villafranca 
assumes the character of an oid 
woman, and induces Count Rafael di 
Viliani to marry her, if she pays his 
debts. She afterwards, to his sur¬ 
prise, appears a young and beautiful 
woman, and they agree to grow old 
together. 

Time will Tell. 3 Acts. By Her¬ 
bert Gardner. Modem Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 4 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman: 2 
Walking Ladies. Lord Fayniant nas 
secretly married Lettice without the 
knowledge of his father, who contem¬ 
plates another match for him. 
Fayniant has forged a bill; but to 
save him from disgrace, his friend, 
John Carr, takes the blame upon him¬ 
self and goes to America. Twenty- 
three years after John Carr returns a 
wealthy man, under the name of 
Ravenshaw. He adopts Lettice’s 
child, and brings her up with his own 
daughter, Edith. A certain Count, 
imagining he has proof of Ravenshaw 
having committed the forgery, 
demands his daughter and £100,000 for 
his silence. His plans are frus¬ 
trated, and Edith and Lettice are 
united to their respective lovers. 


DRAMAS. 


Coals of Fire, 3 Acts. By H. T. 
Craven. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 30 min. 2 Interior. 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Utility: 2 Walkin'? Ladies. An old 
man, who is ill-treated and defrauded 
by a swindling speculator, eventually 
obtains his rights and forgives his 
persecutors. 

Farmer’s Story. 3 Acts. By Bayle 
Bernard. Costume. 1815._ Time, 2 
hours. 1 Exterior. 2 Interior Scenes; 

3 Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 
1 Old Man: 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Lady 
Comedian. In the first act is repre¬ 
sented the village (Labour and its 
Lesson), where a farmer wins £20 000 
in a lottery. Act II. the metropolis 
(Wealth and its Temptations), the 
farmer enacts a man of fashion. Act 
III. the heath (Want and its Conse¬ 
quences), the farmer is here a re¬ 
duced gamester. 

Next of Kin. (Comic.) 2 Acts. By 
E. Falconer. Modern Costume. 


Time, 1 hour 15 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 3 Old Men; 1 Low Come¬ 

dian; 4 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Timothy Chump is 
supposed to be the son of a laundress, 
but proves to be the heir of an estate 
now in possession of Mr. Mountjoy, 
whose daughter, Clara, he becomes 
engaged to. 

Nice Firm. (Comic.) 1 Act. By 
Tom Taylor. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. I Office Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Light Comedian: 3 
Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Two solicitors get everything 
in a hopeless muddle, from wh ; ch 
they have much difficulty in extricating 
themselves. 

Peep Show Man. 2 Acts. By 

T. J. Williams. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 55 min. 2 Interior. 2 
Exterior Scenes. 1 Scene rather diffi¬ 
cult; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Old Men; 2 Utility; 2 
Walking Ladies. A captain dies and 
instructs his mate, Jack Trudget, w 


104 


TEN CHARACTERS, 


find his daughter, to whom he 
bequeaths £20,000, Trudget procures 
a peep show and travels the country in 
search of her. He finds her, rescues 
her from drowning, and marries her. 

Porter’s Knot. (Serio-Comic.) 2 
Acts. By John Oxenford. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 35 min. 1 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 


Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 8 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. Samson Burr, who had saved 
sufficient to live upon and educate his 
son, is ruined by this son’s profligacy, 
and is oblieed to again take up the 
“Porter’s Knot” and return to hs 
old occupation. The son subsequently 
retrieves his name and is enabled to 
reinstate his father. 


NINE MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 

FARCE. DRAMA. 


To Paris and Back for £ 5 . 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 55 mm. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 4 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady. Samuel Snozzle buys an ex¬ 
cursion ticket to Paris, and arranges 
to meet his Uncle Snriggins and 
Cousin Fanny at Tunbridge. He just 
misses, the train, and after making 
various attempts to overtake it, which 
brings him into serious trouble with 
the railway officials, he encounters his 
Uncle and Fanny, who had decided 
to wait for the next train. 


Harvest Storm. 1 Act. By C. H. 
Hazlewood. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Tragedian; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 4 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady. A brother 
is falsely accused of robbing his em¬ 
ployers, and flies to his sister, asking 
her to give him the means to go 
abroad. She endeavours to borrow 
the money, but the farm in which she 
is employed is robbed, and she in her 
turn is accused of theft. Ti»« real 
thieves are then captrired. 


ELEVEN - CHARACTERS 


105 


ELEVEN CHARACTERS. 


THREE MALES AND EIGHT FEMALES 
FARCES. 


Little Sins and Pretty Sinners. 

1 Act. By Charles Selby. Quaker 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
7 Walking Ladies. Harry Wilder, a 
pretended Quaker, calls on Reuben 
Snuffler to select one of his seven mar¬ 
riageable daughters for a wife. He 
assumes the name of Hezekiah Broad¬ 
brim. and decides upon one of the 
daughters whom he discovers he had 
previously met whilst travelling. 


Too Much for Good Nature. 1 

Act. By E. Falconer. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Light Comedian; 1 Eccentric Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 3 Old 
Women; 5 Walking Ladies. The wife 
of a good-natured man leaves him for 
a day, the first time for the six weeks 
they have been married. He is deter¬ 
mined to enjoy a quiet cigar, and read 
up the back newspapers. His good 
nature is imposed upon by various ac¬ 
quaintances. 


FOUR MALES AND SEVEN FEMALES. 


FARCES. 


Milliner’s Holiday. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 50 
min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 6 


Utility. A party of young milliners go 
out for a holiday. They enter the house 
where a former apprentice resides, and 
make a lover renew his vows to a 
young lady he had slighted. 


COMEDIES 


World of Fashion. 3 Acts. By John 
Oxenford. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes: 1 Old Man; 
1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Leading Juvenile 
Ladies; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Utility. 
Marie de Veux Chateau is a poor re¬ 
lation of the Count and Countess de 
Veux Chateau, and is made to feel her 


position. The Count’s son is in love 
with her, but the Count desires a 
wealthy alliance. Marie leaves them 
and sets up in business as a milliner, 
much to the disgust of her relations. 
She succeeds so well that she is en¬ 
abled to pay 60 000 francs to rescue 
Adolphe from his embarrassments and 
marry him. 


DRAMAS. 


FIVE MALES AND SIX FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Everybody’s Husband. 1 Act. By 

R. Ryan. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Walking Gentleman; 2 Old Men; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 4 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Utility. A married gentle¬ 
man, in the absence of his wife, is 


staying at a boarding-house. His in¬ 
trigues and flirtations there earn for 
him the soubriquet of “ Everybody's 
Husband.” 

Pantomime Rehearsal. See MS. 

plays. 


COMEDY. 


Oh! Susannah! (Farcical.) 3 Acts. 
By Mark Ambient, A. Atwood, and 
R. Vaun. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. _ 1 Interior 
Scene throughout; 2 Light Come¬ 
dians* 2 Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian; 3 
Walking Ladies; 2 Old Women. A 
young doctor, John Sheppard, is 
persuaded that marriage is the secret 
of success and secretly espouses Flora 
Warner. Mr. Plant, solicitor, dis¬ 
covers Sheppard is entitled to con¬ 
siderable fortune and brings his two 
daughters to London with the fixed 


resolve to marry one of them to him. 
These young ladies’ affections are 
planted elsewhere, and one of their 
lovers, Lieut. Merry, conceives the idea 
of impersonating a maiden aunt 
Sheppaid is expecting. The doctor 
overhears the plot, and when the real 
aunt arrives he thinks she is Merry. 
She is given a very rough time, and 
practically kicked from the house. Vice 
versa, when Merry arrives he is 
thought to he the real aunt—much to 
his satisfaction. Explanations follow, 
Sheppard announces himself already 
a married man. 


ELEVEN CHARACTERS, 


103 


DRAMAS 


The Awakening-. 4 Acts. By Had- 
don Chambers. Is. 6d. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 .-light 
Comedian; 4 Comedians; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 4 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Lady. To James St. John Trower’s 
rooms, one night, comes Olive Law¬ 
rence, a girl he has previously been on 
intimate terms with in the country. 


Realising the compromising position, 
which she uoes not understand, He 
takes her back to her hotel. Trowers 
has a habit of making love to every 
pretty woman he meets, and he allows 
Olive to fall desperately in love with 
him. When she discovers his true 
character, she sends him away with 
a feeling of hatred. This time he is in 
earnest, and they are brought together 
by the influence of a third party. 


SIX MALES AND FIVE FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Boarding School. 1 Act. By W. B. 
Bernard. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 3 Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 
1 Comedian; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 
1 Low Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 4 Walking Ladies. A party 
of officers manage to captivate some 
young ladies at a boarding school, and 
by various disguises they succeed in 
gaining an entrance to the school and 
make love to them. 

Kleptomania. 3 Acts. By Mark 
Melford. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 10 min. 1 Interior Scene through¬ 
out; 1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 8 Utility; 2 Old 


Women; 3 Walking Ladies. Major- 
General Blair’s wife is a kleptomaniac. 
Their daughter is engaged to Andrew 
Smalley, much to the disgust of Dr. 
Watly, who wishes to marry her. In 
order to cure Lady Blair, Dr. Watly 
advertises for another kleptomaniac, 
maintaining one would shame the 
ether, and requests applicants to apply 
t 9 Smalley’s rooms. This leads to ter¬ 
rible trouble before the necessary ex¬ 
planations are forthcoming. 


COMEDIES 


Everybody’9 Friend. 3 Acts. By J. 

S. Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 

Light Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian- 3 Utility; 3 
Lady Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Utility. This play has been rendered 
familiar to playgoers by Mr. J. S. 
Clarke’s famous impersonation of 
Major Wellington de Boots. For 
many years past it has been played 
under the title of “ The Widow Hunt.” 
Mr. Felix Featherley earns for himself 
the name of Everybody’s Friend, and 
whilst obliging everybody he neglects 
his wife at home, and on his devoted 
head falls the consequences of his 
good-natured intervention elsewhere. 
He at last gets out of his difficulties, 
and domestic happiness is restored to 
him. 

Match-maker. (Farcical.) 2 Acts. 
By C. S. Cheltnam. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout; 2 Old Men; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A lady has 
a great propensity for match-making. 
She plans an engagement between a 


rich young lady and a gentleman 
friend. The parents of the young 
lady are agreeable, but the gentleman 
is not. 


Not so Bad after All. 3 Acts. By 
W. Reeve. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour 40 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Old Men; 2 Low Comedians; 

1 Lady Comedian.; 2 Old Women; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A 
wife assumes extraordinary whims and 
fancies. She is only aroused from her 
lethargy by her husband pretending to 
be very ill. 

Serious Family. 3 Acts. By Morris 
Barnett. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman- 

2 Lady Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 
1 Chambermaid. Through the preach¬ 
ing of a country hypocrite, a happy 
family has become quite too utterly 
serious. A jovial Irish friend arrives 
and speedily sets matters right, ex¬ 
poses the hypocrite, and brings every¬ 
thing to a hapoy termination. 


ILEVEH CHARACTERS 


107 


Tom Pinch. 3 Acts. By J. J. Dilley 
and Lewis Clifton. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 4 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 

SEVEN MALES AND 


Utility. This is one of the princiral 
incidents in the life of “ Tom Pinch,” 
extracted from Dickens’ “ Martin 
Chuzzlewit.” 


FOUR FEMALES. 


FARCES. 


Dandy Dick. 3 Acts. By A. W. 
Pinero. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2? hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 
Old Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Dr. Jedd, Dean of St. 
Marvels, who is very hard up, has pro¬ 
mised £1.000 towards the restoration of 
the church spire. He is visited by his 
sister, the widow of a racing man, and 
Sir Tristram Mardon, an old Oxford 
chum, who between them own Dandy 
Dick, a horse running in the races 
next day. The Dean invests £50 on 
the horse, and to ensure success en¬ 
deavours to administer a bolus. He 
is cauvht aud locked up on a charge 
of attempting to poison the horse, but 
is finally rescued. 

Deaf as a Post. 1 Act. By John 

Poole. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
1 Low Comedian; 1 Comedian; 4 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Captain 
Templeton pretends to be deaf, and by 
this means prevents the marriage of 


Mr. Walton’s daughter with an objec¬ 
tionable suitor. 

His First Champagne. 1 Act. By 
W. L. Rede. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 10 min. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Juvenile Lead; 
1 Comedian: 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Utility: 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid; and Supers. 
Describes the result of a bashful young 
lover partaking of his first champagne. 

On 'Change. 3 Acts. By Eweretta 
Lawrence. Modern Costume. Time, 
2i hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Eccentric Comedians; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 2 Old 
Women; 2 Walking Ladies. James 
Burnett, a stockbroker, and Professor 
Peck are cousins. Peck has a great 
contempt for business, and thinks that 
anyone could make money on the 
Stock Exchange. He accordingly tri«3 
his hand, with the most disastrous re¬ 
sults. He has, however, been all the 
time in the hands of Burnett, and Peck 
is delighted to find he has not ruined 
himself. 


COMEDIES 


False Shame. 3 Acts. By F. A. Mar¬ 
shall. Modern Costume. Time, 3 
hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 

1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 

2 Walking Ladies; 1 Utility. Mag¬ 
dalen Atherleigh is a young heiress, of 
a romant'c turn of mind, and Lord 
Arthur Chilton, a gentleman of cool 
and effeminate manners. Magdalen 
has a secret liking for him in her 
heart. She has a designing lover in 
Ernest Bragleigh. Unknown to her, 
Arthur saves her from drowning, and 
Bragleigh poses as her preserver. The 
latter is afterwards unmasked, and 
Magdalen and Arthur happily united. 


Late Lamented. 3 Acts. By Fred 
Horner. Modern Costume. Time, 2J 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 3 Light 
Comedians; 2 Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 Utility. 
A wine merchant named Nichol¬ 
son, before the commencement of 
the play, commits bigamy — one 
wife living in England _ and the 
other in Cyprus, each _ in ignor¬ 
ance of the other’s personality. Nichol¬ 


son spends six months of each year in 
England and Cyprus respectively. He 
dies, and both widows marry again. 
By singular coincidence they live in 
the same mansion of flats, and the 
whole intrigue is ingeniously divulged. 


My Great Aunt. 1 Act. By J. R. 

Planche. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Comedians; 
2 Old Men; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady; 1 Chambermaid. A rich 
aunt turns the tables upon her rela¬ 
tions, who annoy her with their con¬ 
stant attentions, in order that they 
might influence her in the disposal of 
her wealth . 

Partners for Life. 3 Acts. By H. 

J. Byron. Modern Costume Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 3 Old Men; 
1 Comedian; 1 Low Comedian; 1 
Walking Gentleman: 1 Utility; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Chambermaid. Two 
young people have been married, and 
separated soon afterwards. They acci¬ 
dentally meet again, and finally start 
in earnest as partners for life. 


103 


ELEVEN CHARACTERS, 


Prude’s Progress. 8 Acts. By 
Jerome K. Jerome. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2£ hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 
Comedians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Light Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Mrs. Ben Dixon, who has 
been on the stage, and yearns after re¬ 
spectability, marries Ben Dixon, a 
philanthropist, and member of the 
Vigilance Society and the London 
County Council. He turns out. a 
thorough scoundrel, and, after robbing 
her and all her friends of their money, 
is on the point of bolting, when he is 
confronted by his first wife, whom he 
has deserted. 

Punch. 3 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2| hours. 2 
Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Low 
Comedians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. Alice Mer¬ 
ton has been adopted by Professor 
Mistletoe, a puppet-show proprietor. 
She takes a situation as companion at 
the mansion of Fotheringay Trevanion, 
a self-made man, whose stepson falls 
in love with her. The professor is en¬ 
gaged to give his entertainment at the 
house, and in an unguarded moment 
makes known his identity. A scene 
ensues, when the professor recognises 


in Trevanion his own brother. Al¬ 
though he is repulsed at first, the two 
are afterwards reconciled. 

Rocket. In 3 Acts. By Arthur W. 
Pinero. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Light Comedians; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; i 
French Waiter; 1 Butler; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
French Maid. At an hotel in Dinant 
are staying Joslyn Hammersmith, 
John Maple, the Chevalier Walkin- 
shaw and daughter, Florence. Joslyn 
falls in love with Florence, and the 
Chevalier coming on the scene when 
they are in the act of kissing, Joslyn 
formally asks for her hand. Walkin- 
shaw demurs at first, but on learning 
Joslyn is heir to large property, con¬ 
sent is given. John Maple has lost 
his daughter, and is searching the 
world to recover her. In London, 
Joslyn introduces his fiancee and her 
father to his mother. The Chevalier 
discovers the wealth of the old lady, 
and at once seeks to marry her. Jos- 
lyn tries to prevent this, and when 
entreaties are of no avail uses his 
boot on his future father-in-law. The 
latter’s wife, whom he had thought 
dead, re-appears, and Maple discovers 
in Florence his lost daughter. 


DRAMAS. ********* 


Among: the Relics. (Comedy Drama.) 
3 Acts. By T. A. Palmer. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 4 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A 
young man is under a cloud, through 
the fact of his mother’s marriage certi¬ 
ficate not being forthcoming. This is 
at last found among some relics. He 
comes into property, and is enabled to 
marry the lady of his choice. 

Blow for Blow. Prologue and 3 Acts. 

By H. J. Byron. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 5 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Tragedian; 1 Low Comedian; 
2 Utility; 2 Juvenile Ladies; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Old Woman. John Drum¬ 
mond is in love with Mildred Crad¬ 
dock, but she refuses him, and marries 
Lieut. Linden, R.N. She dies shortly 
afterwards whilst Linden is at sea, 
and he, having succeeded to a 
Baronetcy, marries again. To be re¬ 
venged, Drummond tells Alice Pethe- 
rick, Mildred’s twin sister, that Linden 
had neg^cted his wife and caused her 
death and he persuades Alice to im¬ 
personate her dead sister, whom she 
strongly resembles. They visit 1 : n- 
den’o country place, and he is dnmb- 
fou* sd at the appearance of his first 
wile The deception is, however, dia- 
cov* d in the end. 


Broken Ties. 2 Acts. By J. P. Simp¬ 
son. Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 
20 min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 
1 Old Man; 1 Comedian; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Herbert Warner is engaged to 
Lucy Richmond, and his father has to 
inform Lucy’s family that he is sepa¬ 
rated from his wife, who is an operatic 
singer. Herbert, hearing his mother 
slandered, challenges the traducer to 
a duel, and the mother, hearing of this, 
seeks an interview with her husband, 
which causes a reconciliation. 

Captain Swift. (Comedy Drama.) 4 
Acts. By Haddon Chambers. Is. 6d. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2| hours. 3 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man2 Utility; 2 Old Women; 2 
Walking Ladies. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Seabrook’s house comes a mysterious 
guest (Mr. Wilding), who bears a strik¬ 
ing resemblance to a man Mrs. Sra- 
brook should have married, but who 
died, leaving her with a baby boy. Mr. 
Seabrook being unaware of this. Wild¬ 
ing makes ove to Stella Darbishpr 
(Seabrook’s v ard), who has been sought 
af'er by Srabrook’s son Harry, wh le 
a Mr. Gardner is engaged to Mr. Sea¬ 
brook’s daughter. Mr. Gardiner recog¬ 
nises Wilding as a famous bushranger 
(Capt. Swift), and Mrs. Seabrook dia- 


ELEVEN CHARACTERS 


109 


covers in him her own son. In order 

to avoid scandal Wilding is induced to 
quit the house, but detectives being on 
his track, he commits suicide. 


English Gentleman. 4 Acts. By H. 

J. Byron. Modern Costume. Time, 3 
hours. 1 Exterior. 3 Interior Scenes; 
3 Comedians; 2 Old Men; 2 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 3 Walking Ladies. 
Charles Chuckles is obliged to re¬ 
linquish his estate, on the production 
of a forged will, to his cousin, Roderick 
Gresham, who proves a hard landlord 
to his tenantry. The real will is after¬ 
wards discovered, and Char es again 
enters into possession of his property. 

Infatuation. 4 Acts. Adapted from 
the French, by Sir C. L. Young. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Comedians; 3 Utility; 2 
Lady Comedians: 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Child. Henri cle Lignerolles, living 
with his wife and father-in-law, is in¬ 
fatuated with Cecile, Countess de 
Givry. Count de Givry appears, dis¬ 
covers the love existing between Henri 
and his wife, and kills the former in 
a duel. 

Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing. 1 Act. 

By Tom Taylor. Costume, 1685. Time, 


1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Tragedian; 

2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 3 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian: 3 Utility. 
Jasper Carew has escaped, after the 
battle of Sedgmoor, and is in hiding in 
his own house. To allay suspicion, his 
wife Alice allows Colonel Kirke to 
make love to her, promising to marry 
him. Kirke, however, discovers Jasper 
with his child, and is on the point of 
arresting them when Lord Churchill 
brings the news that Kirke has been 
dismissed, and the Carews are set free. 

Sweet Lavender. Is. 6d. 3 Acts. 

By A. W. Pinero. Modern Costume. 
Time, 23 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout; 1 Old Man’ 1 Eccentric 
Comedian; 1 Walking Gent'eman; 1 
Light Comedian; 3 Low Comedians; 

1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 
Walking Ladies. Clement Hale, a 
young Barrister, falls in love with 
Lavender, the daughter of Ruth Holt, 
the housekeeper at his chambers. Dick 
Phenyl, his friend, and Mr. Wedder- 
burn, who has adopted him, try to d s- 
suade him from marrying Lavender. 
Wedderburn, however, recognises i» 
Ruth an old sweetheart, whom he 
would have married but for his father, 
and, on d scovering that Lavender is his 
own natural daughter, he consents to 
her engagement to Clement. 


EIGHT MALES AND THREE FEMALES. 
FARCES. 


Plot and Counter Plot. 1 Act. By 

C. Kemble. Spanish Costume. Time, 
1 hour 10 min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Comedians j 2 
Low Comedians; 2 Utility; 1 Walking 
Lady; 2 Chambermaids. Two gentle¬ 
men are in love with the same lady, 
and the way each tries to outdo the 
other affords much amusement. 

Special Performances. 1 Act. By 
W. Harrison. Modern Costume. Time. 


40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian; 5 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Old Woman. Fanny 
Ferrett is taking part in a special per¬ 
formance of a play, written by her 
lover, and unbeknown to her father. A 
rehearsal is arranged during the sup¬ 
posed absence of the father, who, be¬ 
ing a special constable, overheais the 
proceedings, and takes them for thieves 
and murderers. 


COMEDIES. 


Garrick. 3 Acts. By William Mus- 
kerry Costume, period 1740. Time, 1 
hour 50 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Mon; 1 Comedian; 1 Light Comedian; 
3 Low Comedians; 2 Utility: 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Old Women. _ Alderman 
Gresham, in order to cure his daughter 
Violet of her infatuation for the cele¬ 
brated actor, invites Garrick to his 
house, w r ho undertakes to effect her 
cure. Garrick discovers in Violet the 
unknown lady with whom he has long 
been enamoured; but. true to h:s 
words, feigns intoxication to disgust 
her. VioiCt, discovering the subter¬ 
fuge, refuses to relinquish her love. 


and finally Gresham himself entreats 
Garrick for the honour of his alliance. 
A most charming version of the well- 
known play of “ David Garrick.” It 
can be recommended to those dramatic 
clubs which wish a suitable costum® 
piece. It is full of admirable situa¬ 
tions, and contains one of the most 
showy and effective leading roles over 
written. 

Going It. 3 Acts. By J. M. Morton. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2i hours. 2 
Inferior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 3 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Foreigner; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Mr. Gossett wishes his 
son Bob to marry a rich old spinster, 
and his daughter to marry a funereal- 


110 


ELEVEN - CHARACTERS 


mannered man. They rebel, and Bob 
starts for London, where his father fol¬ 
lows him, and immediately. gets in¬ 
volved in various difficulties, from 
which he is extricated by his daughter’s 
lover. His children are then allowed 
t® choose partners for themselves. 


Pair of Spectacles. Is. 3 Acts. By 
Sydney Grundy. Modern Costume. 

Time, 2J hours. 1 Interior Scene 

throughout; 2 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 
2 Light Comedians; 2 Utility; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. Gregory 
Goldfinch, a bluff keen Yorkshireman, 
visits his brother Benjamin in London. 
The latter breaks his spectacles, and 
borrows Gregory’s. He then, at the in¬ 
stigation of Gregory, sees things in 
quite a different light, and suspects 
his servants, tradesmen, friends, chil¬ 
dren, and finally his wife, of deceiving 
him. After some most amusing scenes 
his confidence is restored, when his 
own spectacles are mended. 

Play. Is. 4 Acts. By T. W. Robert¬ 
son. Modern Costume. Time, 2J hours. 
2 Inferior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 2 Old 
Men; 2 Comedians; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man ; 3 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. The 
Hon. Bruce Fanquehere is much re¬ 
duced by gambling. His niece, Rosie, 
becomes engaged to Frank Price. 


Chevalier Browne, hearing that Rosi® 
and her uncle have inherited a for¬ 
tune, of which they are ignorant, makes 
love to her. Browne, however, has a 
wife, whom he makes out to be dead, 
but the wife appears and informs Rosie 
that the man she loves is her husband. 
Rosie thinks she is alluding to Frank, 
and an embroglio arises. The error is 
then discovered, and the lovers made 
happy. 

Squire. In 3 Acts. By Arthur W. 
Pinero. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 1 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Comedians; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Light Comedian; 2 Juvenile 
leads; 1 Walkmg Gentleman; 1 
Leading Lady; 1 J^ady Comedian; 1 
Walking Lady. Kate Verity inherits 
the lands of John Verity, and elects 
to be known as the “ Squire.” Two 
men are desperately in love with her. 
It is soon seen she has married one of 
them secretly, Lieutenant Thomdyke 
—secretly because his mother has 
power to disown him if he marries 
without her consent. The Rev. Mr. 
Dormer puts in an appearance, and 
imparts the information of a dying 
woman, lying at an inn, whom the 
Lieutenant had married in former 
days, but who had been unfaithful to 
him. Kate shrinks from Thorndyke, 
though she realises he did not know 
his lawful wife was alive at the tim« 
of her marriage. The woman at the 
inn succumbs, and they are leg&lly 
reunited. 


DRAMAS. 


Gipsy Farmer. 2 Acts. By J. B 

Johnstone. Peasant and Modern Cos 
tume. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 3 Ex 
terior, 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man, 
1 Tragedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Boy; 2 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady: 1 Chambermaid. Abel Allnutt, 
the gipsy farmer, endeavours to carry 
off Margaret, the daughter of a magis¬ 
trate. Abel s associates nearly kill 
Margaret’s lover, whose brother Jack 
rescues them, and becomes engaged to 
Margaret’s waiting-maid. 

Golden Plough. 4 Acts. By Paul 
Meritt. Modern Costume. Time. 2 
hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 3 Comedians; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility;; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. Jeiry 
Drake, a notorious London thief, dis¬ 
guises himself as the Rev. Mar in 
Preston, and murders and robs Sir 
Francis Claude, who is staying at the 
Golden Plough. Before dying*, Sir 
Francis confesses to Grace Royal, the 
landlady of the inn, and Martin’s 
other, the name of his assailant, and 
artin is arrested. Jerry, however, in 
attempting to escape, is discovered. 


Miss Chester. 3 Acts. By F. Marrval 

and Sir Charles L. Young. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hpurs. 2 Exterior, 
1 Interior f-cenes; 2 Comedians; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 1 Old Man; 4 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Lady. Lady Gertrude 
Challinor is separated from her hus¬ 
band, and is a companion at her rela¬ 
tions. the Earl of Montressor and his 
mother, who do not know her identity, 
she being known only as Miss Chester, 
The Earl is in love with his cousin 
Isabel, who prefers his supposed 
younger brother, Rupert. It transpires 
that Rupert was changed at birth, and 
is really the son of Lady Gertrude. 
After many vicissitudes, Lady Gertrude 
is reconciled to her husband, and 
Rupert wins Isabel. 

Montcalm. 5 Acts. By Sir C. L. 

Young. French Costume—Napoleon I. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scene; 3 Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Old Men; 2 Utility; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Old Woman. Le Chevalier Malecarne 
persecutes Louise Lavergne, informing 
her that he has a deep wrong to 
avenge. Sho is a criminal, having 


■LEVEN CHARACTERS 


111 


poisoned her lover. Malecarne com¬ 
pels her to marry the Count de Mont¬ 
calm, although she is in love with tlie 
brother of the man she killed. She 
determines to poison Malecarne, but 
being unmasked she takes the dose 
herself, after Malecarne has learned 
that she was his own daughter. 

The Old Chateau. 3 Acts. By J. 8. 
Coyne. Time, 2 hours 15 min. Modern 
Costume. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Man; 1 Leading 
Juvenile; 1 Low Comedian; 3 Utility; 
2 Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
Julie marries the Marouis de Leyrac 
in order to save her father from ruin, 
although she loves Arniand. The Mar¬ 
quis, learning this and being sus¬ 
picious, endeavours to get Armand 
shot,, but falls into the trap himself 
and is killed, which leaves Julie tree 
once more. 


Wandering; Boys. 2 Acts. By John 

Kerr. Costume, early period. Time, 1 
hour 40 min. 4 Exterior Scenes; 1 
Comedian; 1 Tragedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 2 Old Men; 2 Poys; 1 
Utility; 2 Old Women; 1 Walking 
Lady; and some Supers. The Count 
de Croissy has been captured by 
pirates and imprisoned for 12 years 
He escapes and returns to find his 
niece in possession of his castle. He 
takes a situation as a porter at the 
castle, and his two children arrive as 
wandering bpys. His niece, with the 
aid of a villainous servant, endeavours 
to poison the boys, but they are saved 
by the Count, who eventually regains 
his possessions. 


NINE MALES AND TWO FEMALES 
FARCE* 


Unfinished Gentleman. 1 Act. By 
Charles Selby. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Walking 
Gentleman: 2 Low Comedians: 4 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. Lord Totterly, a vain old man, 
is about to marry Louisa Bloomfield, 
who accepts him to save her father. 


Louisa is in love with Charles Danvers, 
who consults his friend, Frisk Flam- 
mer, nephew and heir of Lord Totterly. 
Flammer causes a porter and tiger to 
dress up as supposed uncle and aunl 
to Louisa, and so frightens Lord Tot- 
terly that he is glad to alter his mind, 
and the lovers are united. 


COMEDY. 


8till Waters Run Deep. 3 Acts. By 
Tom Taylor. Modern Costume. Tune, 
2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 
2 Walking Gentlemen; 3 Utility; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Lady Comedian. John 
Mildmay’s house is ruled by his wife’s 
aunt, and he is considered a cipher. 


An adventurer, Captain Hawkesley, en¬ 
deavours to make the family invesi 
largely in a bubble company, but Mild- 
may unmasks him, proves him to oe i 
forger, and he is arrested. Mildmay al 
last determines to be master in bis own 
house. 


DRAMAS. 


Don Caesar de Bazan. 3 Acts. By 
G. A’Beckett and Mark Lemon. 
Spanish Costume. Time, 1 hour 50 
min. 1 Exterior, 4 Interior Scenes; 3 
Comedians; 1 Ok, Man; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 4 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Woman. Don Ca-sar is a 
gallant and noble adventurer, who, re¬ 
duced to penury and under sentence of 
death, is persuaded by Don Jose to 
wed a veiled and unknown lady, who is 
Maritana, a dancing girl. The K ng 
has used this device, being in 'ove 
with Maritana, to make her a Coun’ess 
and thus bring her to court. The King 
then represents to Maritana that he is 
her husband, when he is suddenly con¬ 
fronted by Don Csesar, who has escaped 
executioners, claims his wife, and 


brings the King to a sense of reason 
and justice. 

Mincrali. 2 Acts. By H. G. Plunkett. 

Old-fashioned Mountain and Peasant 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 4 Come¬ 
dians; 2 Old Men; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man, 2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Leila is beloved by 
Francisco, but her father wishes her 
to marry Ricardo, a young farmer. He 
agrees, however, to her marriage with 
Francisco if he can bring 3,000 ducats 
as her portion within a year. He is 
unable to do this himself, but one ol 
his companions, who is also in love 
with Leila, bequeaths it to him, whe» 
drum. 


112 


ELEVEN- CHARACTERS, 


Robert Macaire. (Melodrama.) 2 
Acts. By Charles Selby. French 
Peasant Costume. Time, 1 hour 25 
min. 2 Old Men; 1 Tragedian; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Juvenile; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Gentleman; 2 Utility; 1 "Walking 
Lady; 1 Lady Comedian. Robert 
Macaire, accompanied by his con¬ 
federate and tool, Jacques Strop, have 
escaped from prison, and, assuming the 
airs of “ gentlemen at large,” obtain 
access to an inn, and mingle with a 
wedding party. After a sei les of dar¬ 
ing robberies and adventures, the pair 
are recaptured and handed over to jus¬ 
tice. 


Snowdrift. 2 Acts. By Alfred Coates. 
Village Costume. Time, 1£ hour. 1 
Exterior Scene throughout; 2 Old 
Men; 2 "Walking Gentlemen: 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian; 1 Utility; 1 
"Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Dan¬ 
vers has murdered Whitburn, a miller. 
Suspicion falls upon Ironside, the vil¬ 
lage blacksmith, but the real murderer 
is traced by a cross worked in nails on 
the soles of the boots he is wearing. 
An effective piece for performers re¬ 
quiring a strong, short play with a 
good comic underplot. 


TEN MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 
DRAMAS. 


Seven Clerks. 2 Acts. By T. E. 
Wilkes. Early French Costume. Time, 
1 hour 10 mm. 2 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 5 Utility; 1 Walking Lady, and 
supers. A miser has caused seven of 


his clerks to be hung for robbing him. 
A young nobleman is in love wiih his 
daughter, and enters his service, and 
he likewise is accused of robbery. It 
eventually is discovered that the miser 
himself took the money, and hid it in 
his sleep. 


TWELVE CHARACTERS, 


113 


TWELVE CHARACTERS. 


FIVE MALES AND SEVEN FEMALES 
COMEDIES. 


Niobe, AH Smiles. (Farcical.) 3 
Acts. By Harry and Edward Paulton. 
Is. 6d. Modern and one Grecian Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2£ hours. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout; 2 Comedians; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Eccentric 

Comedian; 4 Walking Ladies; 2 


Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. A statue 
of Niobe is entrusted to the care ol 
Peter Amos Dunn. Some live electric 
wires come in contact with the pedestal 
and impart vital current to the sys¬ 
tem, inducing respiration, thereby 
creating a living being several 
thousand years old. The being falls ib 
love with Peter Amos Dunn, who, in¬ 
cidentally, is married. He pretends it 
is a new governess he has engaged. 
Finally the owner comes to daim his 
property. 


SIX MALES AND SIX FEMALES, 
FARCES. 


Our Domestics. 2 Acts. By F. Hay. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 
3 Low Comedians; 2 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Cham¬ 
bermaids; 2 Utility. Joseph and 
Julia, the two servants of Mr. and 
Mrs. Crusty, give a party during the 
absence of the latter at the opera. The 
unexpected return of the master and 
mistress causes their instant dismissal. 
But Julia being a creditor of Mrs. 
Crusty’s, unbeknown to Mr. Crusty, 
and Joseph knowing a little secret of 
Mr. Crusty’s which would be incon¬ 
venient for Mrs. Crusty to hear of, they 


both manage to obtain forgiveness if 
they promise not to offend again. 

Volunteer Review. 1 Act. By T. J. 
Williams. Modern and Volunteer Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid: 4 Utility. Four Extra Men will 
also be required to dress up. Some 
young ladies at a milliners expect 
some farmers’ sons to call in disguise. 
The servant girl invites some volun¬ 
teers into the house, and they get mis¬ 
taken for the countrymen. 


Doctor Bill. (Farcical.) 
plays. 


Nita’s First. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By 
T. G. Warren. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Light Comedian; 2 Walking 


Gentlemen; 1 Eccentric Comedian; 1 
Utility; 2 Old Women; 2 Juvenile 
Ladies; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Utility. 
Nita gets married secretly, and sends 
her baby to her brother’s house to be 
taken care of. The letter explaining 
matters is delayed. The brother, find¬ 
ing the baby, takes it out and leaves it 
on a doorstep, and it is eventually 
lost. The incidents leading to its re¬ 
covery are screamingly funny. 


COMEDIES 
See MS. 


DRAMAS. 


Honour Before Wealth. 4 Acts. 
Adapted by T. Edwards and L. Wal- 
lach. Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 
30 min. 4 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
2 Comedians; 1 Tragedian; 1 Old 
Man; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 
1 Juvenile Lead; 2 Old Women; 2 
Utility. The Marquis de Champcey’s 
lather having squandered his estate. 


he is compelled to take a situation aa 
steward to Gaspard Laroqqe whose 
daughter, Marguerite, he falls in love 
with. Marguerite’s governess falls in 
love with the Marquis, and endeavours 
to poison the mind of Marguerite, and 
partly succeeds. It eventually trans¬ 
pires that the Laroque estates belong 
to the Marquis, and his happy mar¬ 
riage with Marguerite then takes »dao*. 


114 


TWELVE CHARACTERS 


Scran of Paper. (Comic.' 3 Acts. By 
J. Palgrave Simpson. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Old Man; 1 
Juvenile; 2 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Old 
Women; 1 Utility. Describes the ad¬ 
ventures of a love letter, written by 


Baroness de la Glacier® to Prospei 
Couramont, previous to her marriage 
with the Baron. The manner in which 
this letter is sought after, and kept 
from destruction until the last act, dis¬ 
plays an ingenuity of construction 
which few plays are endowed with. 


SEVEN MALES AND FIVE FEMALES 
COMEDIES. 


Amazons. 8 Acts. By A. W. Pinero. 
Is. 6d. Modern Costume. Time, 2£ 
hours. 1 Exterior. 1 Interior (Gymna¬ 
sium) Scene; 1 Old Man; 3 Light 
Comedians; 3 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 
1 Lady Comedian; S Walking Ladies. 
Lady Castlejordan, a widow with three 
daughters, deplores the fact that she 
has not any sons. She endeavours to 
remedy this by treating her girls as 
though they were boys, dressing them 
in men’s clothes, and having them 
taught to shoot and box. Three gentle¬ 
men gain admission to the grounds, 
and the girls promptly fall in love with 
them, and upset all their mother’s 
theories. 

Black Sheep. 8 Acts. By J. Stirling 
Coyne. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 40 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 1 
Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Utility; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Lady Comedian; 2 Old Women; 1 
Utility. Herbert Lester, a poor artist, 
and Ethel Maynard, a governess, are 
in love with each other when Ethel 
unexpectedly comes into a large for¬ 
tune, and in a fit of jealousy breaks 
her engagement with Herbert and 
favours the Hon. Digby Hardpace, who 
owes a lawyer a considerable amount, 
and the latter hopes to be repaid when 
this advantageous match takes place. 
It then transpires that the fortune 
belongs to Herbert, and this is the 
means of bringing the lovers together 
again. 

Checkmate. 2 Acts. By A. Halliday. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 
min. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 2 Low Comedians; 4 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 3 Utility. The uncle of Miss 
Charlotte Russe expresses a wish that 
she should marry Sir Everton Toffee. 
In order t® test him whether he would 
marry her only for her money, she 
changes places with her maid, while 
Sir Everton Toffee, fearing she might 
marry him for nis title, adopts a simi¬ 
lar plan with his man-servant, and 
they ultimately fall in love with each 
other under their respective disguises. 

Duty. 4 Acts. By James Albery. 
Modern Costume. Time, 3 hours. 2 
interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Comedian; 1 Light 


Comedian; 2 Utility; 2 Old Women; 

1 Lady Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Sir Geoffrey Dene, a young baronet, is 
about to marry Mabel Holne. He is 
sacrificing his own happiness in order 
that his dead father’s misdeeds may 
not become known to his mother. 
Eventually the truth becomes known, 
and the mother forgives her husband 
for having given her such a son. 

Mice and Men. (Romantic.) 4 
Acts. By Madeleine Lucette Ryley. 
Is. 6d. Costume about 1786. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scene; 4 Comedians; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Juvenile Lead; 3 Walking 
Ladies; 2 Lady Comedians. Mark 
Embury, a man of over forty, is of 
opinion that the perfect wife must be 
educated from a state of ignorance 
and simplicity to the ideal of the man 
she is about to marry. He accordingly 
proceeds to impart his views tc a girl 
fresh from the Foundling. His young 
nephew comes on the scene, and Em¬ 
bury realises that nature intended the 
young to mate with the young. 

One Summer’s Day, 3 Acts. By H. 
V. Esmond. Is. 6d. Modern Costume. 
Time. 2± hours. 2 Exterior Scenes; 1 
Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 2 Old 
Men; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low 
Comedian; 1 Small Boy; 3 Lady 
Comedians; 2 O.d Women. Dick 
Rudyard has been left guardian of the 
son of a brother officer. The boy's 
mother, a gipsy, appears on the scene, 
and they have a dispute as to the 
ownership of the child, and this is 
overheard by Maysie, who is in love 
with Dick. She comes to the conclu¬ 
sion that the boy is Dick’s own son, 
and accordingly engages herself to 
Phil Marsden, whom she does not care 
for. The truth eventually comes out 
and Phil resigns her to Dick. 

Paul’s Return. 3 Acts. By Watts 
Phillips. Modern Cbstume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 

2 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 1 Trage¬ 
dian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 Utility; 3 
Old Women; 2 Lady Comedians. Ta 
save himself from ruin, Richard Golds¬ 
worthy has used trust money belong¬ 
ing to Blanche Wilton. His nephew, 
Paul, returns from abroad, and is in 
love with his daughter Bea^ce. Paul 
had made a fortune, but has leer 


TWELVE CHABACTEBS 


115 


robbed of it. Richard Goldsworthy 
owes a certain Abel Honeydew a large 
sum of money, and the latter consents 
to ma v e a further advance on con¬ 
dition that Beatrice becomes his wife. 
Honeydew happens to be the one who 

DRAM 

Black Sheep. 3 Acts. By J. P. Simp¬ 
son and E. Yates. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 2 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 3 Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Juvenile Lead; 1 I ow Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians; 

2 Old Women; 1 Walking Lady. Har¬ 
riet Routh, originally a high prin¬ 
cipled governess, marries Stewart 
Routh. a black sheep, and becomes re¬ 
morseless through her devoted love for 
her husband. She devises a plot for 
fastening a murder, committed by her 
husband, on an innocent friend. 
Stewart is detected, and commits sui¬ 
cide, and liis wife dies from the shock. 


robbed Paul, and on being discovered 
is made to refund the fortune he frau¬ 
dulently obtained. Paul then puts 
Richard in a position to repay Blanche 
and he marries Beatrice. 

AS. 


Profligate. 4 Acts. By A. W. Pinero. 

Is. 6d. Modern Costume. Time, 2$ 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 2 Old Men; 
3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 3 
Walking Ladies; 1 Utility. Dunstan 
Renshaw, who has lived a fast life, 
marries Leslie Brudenell. The latter 
meets Janet Preece, whom Renshaw 
had wronged in his early days. Leslie 
discovers the truth, and she and her 
husband part. A reconciliation takes 
place just as Dunstan has made up 
his mind to take poison. 


EIGHT MALES AND FOUR FEMALES. 
FARCE. 


Our Clerks 1 Act. By Tom Taylor. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour 5 min. 
Sitting Room Scene; 2 Comedians; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 4 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Chamber¬ 
maids; 1 Old Woman. Job Meacock 
ivnd Richard Hazard, two barr'sters, 
live in the same house. Hazard is im¬ 


pecunious, and he quietly marries 
Emily Harden, a rich young lady, who 
was intended by her guardian for Mea¬ 
cock. The guardian calls, and the 
clerks impose upon him to such an ex- 
tent that he looks favourably upon the 
marriage. 


COMEDIES. 


Jedbury Junior. 4 Acts. By Made¬ 
leine Lucette Ryley. Is. 6d. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 3 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 1 
Eccentric Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady. Christopher 
Jedbury, Junior, having accidentally 
placed himself in an unfortunate posi¬ 
tion with a lady in the West Indies, is 
forced to marry her without seeing her. 
He returns to England. His father 
finds out about the marriage, quarrels 
with him, and turns him out. Jed¬ 
bury, Junior, goes to India as a clerk 
in his father’s office, there discovers de¬ 
falcations by the manager, and falls in 
love with Dora Hedway. He is recon¬ 
ciled to his father, and Dora turns out 
to be his wife. 

Joseph Entangled. 3 Acts. By 
Henry Arthur Jones. Is. 6d. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior 
Beenes. Lady Verona Mayne arrives 

unexpectedly at her husband’s town 
house and puts up for the night. Sir 
Joseph Lacy has lost his luggage, and 
thinking the Maynes are out of town 
goes to their house, where he is 
offered a bed by the obliging butler, 
who. returning late ' c ignorant of her 
ladyship’s advent. The two meet in 
the morning at breakfast, both amazed 
•t seeing the other.. A couple of 
•candalmongering friends arrive and 


put the worst construction on what 
they see. Hardolph Mayne hears 
“ things ” and is furious, but hearing 
Lady Verona refuse to marry Sir 
Joseph, even if she were free, he 
returns and implores his wife’s pardon. 

“ Mollentrave on Women.” 3 Acts. 
By Alfred Sutro. Is. 6d. and 2s 6d., 
cloth. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 3 Light Comedians: 2 Low 
Comedians; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Old Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Walking Lady. Mr Mollentrave is an 
erotic specialist. His doctiine is 
wrapped up in his work “ Mollen¬ 
trave on Women.” Margaret Mes- 
silent is the pretty and sentimental 
ward of Sir Joseph Baisied, K.C. 
Her quality of sentiment leads her 
into imagining herself in love with 
her guardian, though in reality a 
deep affection exists for Everard 
Swenboys, Balsted’s nephew. Bal- 
sted wishes to get rid of the girl, 
and consults Mollentrave, who 
advises “ adding ” her to the nephew, 
and accepts Balsted’s suggestion to 
propose on his (Swenbovs’i account. 
Margaret misunderstands him, and 
imagines he is proposing on behalf of 
Balsted. Matters are thus more 
complicated. Mollentrave endeavours 
to set matters aright by making 
Balsted feign old age. The plan not 
succeeding, the lawyer takes affair* 
successfully into his own hands. 


116 


TWELVE CH ABAC TEES 


Pickpocket. 3 Acts. By G. P. Haw- 
trey. Modern Costume. # Time, 3 
hours. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
2 Old Men; 1 Light Comedian; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 2 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Utility. This success¬ 
ful comedy ran for 250 representations 
after the memorable run of the “ Pri¬ 
vate Secretary, ’ and abounds in farci¬ 
cal situations. Mr. Hope is jealous of 
his wife, and disguising himself, fol¬ 
lows her to the seaside. He assumes 
the name of Johnson, and is mistaken 
for an escaped lunatic of that name. 
Mrs. Hope, having her suspicions, gets 
a friend to steal her husband’s hand¬ 
kerchief in order to identify him. The 
friend is charged with being a pick¬ 
pocket. Mutual explanations follow, 
and a happy termination is arrived at. 

Randall’s Thumb. 3 Acts. By W. 
S. Gilbert. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 2 Exterior Scenes; 2 
Old Men; 2 Comedians: 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 2 Old Women; 1 Walking Lady. 


Daddy Gray. 3 Acts. By Andrew 
Halliday. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 3 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility: 1 
Boy; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies; 1 Girl. A young girl’s lover 
is arrested on a false charge, and her 
parents try to persuade her to marry 
Daddy Gray, an old man who has bene¬ 
fited them in distress. The young man 
is proved innocent and liberated, and 
Daddy Gray sees the follv of a match 
between May and December. 

I.ongr Odds. 3 Acts. By Conway Ed- 
wardes. Modern Costume. Time, 2i 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Lady Comedian. 
Eric Forester becomes engaged to 
Florence Brabazon. The Earl of Clay- 
shire falls in love with Florence, and 
ta.kc3 a bet with Mr. Ferrers at long 
odds that the above engagement is not 
off within a month. By means of an 
anonymous letter Ferrers wins his bet, 
and Florence marries the Earh who 
proving an unworthy husband, is shot 
by an adversarv, and Florence is again 
free to marry Eric. 

cove’s Sacrifice. 5 Acts. By G W. 
Lovell. Elizabethan Costume. Time, 
2 hours 45 mm. 4 Exterior, 4 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Tragedian; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 3 Walking Gentlemen; 

1 Low Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Old Woman. Mathew 
Elmore and Paul Lafont are fel¬ 
low merchants. Eugene de Lorme 
is in love with Elmore’s daughter, 
Margaret. Elmore adopts this 
name, but he is really the Count 


An adventurer, named Randall, has 
Reginald Buckthorpe under his thumb, 
accusing the latter of murdering a man 
some years ago, and endeavouring to 
extort money from him. Ultimatelj 
the man supposed to have been mur¬ 
dered declares himself alive and well, 
and Randall proves to be a criminal. 

Tom, Dick, and Harry. (Farcical.) 
3 Acts. By Mrs. R. Pacheco. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 2 
Walking Gentlemen; 2 Utility; 4 
Walking Ladies. Tom Stanhope is in 
love with Daisy Armitage, but his 
father wishes him to marry his ward. 
Isabel Howard. Tom disguises himself 
in imitation of a portrait he finds of 
Harry Winters, which happens also to 
be very like the latter’s twin brother 
Dick. There are thus three characters 
in the piece all alike each other, and 
the complications that ensue through 
Tom, Dick, and Harry continually be¬ 
ing mistaken for one another, cause 
such confusion that the General is glad 
to let the lovers have their own way. 


de Barre, who was supposed to have 
killed Eugene's father in an encounter. 
Lafont finds this out, and demands 
Margaret’s hand in marriage. it 
transpires Eugene’s father was not 
killed, and appears on the scene as 
Friar Dominic. Lafont is unmasked, 
and the lovers united. 

Mrs. Dane's Defence. 4 Acts. By 
Henry Arthur Jones. 2s. 6d 

Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 46 

min. . 2 Interior Scenes; 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Comedians; 4 Walking 
Gentlemen; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 
Strong Leading Lady; 1 Walking 

Lady. The adopted son of Sir 

Daniel Cartaret, Lionel, though en¬ 
gaged to J anet Coiquhon, becomes 
infatuated with Mrs. Dane, whose 
antecedent qualities are unknown 
to the social world, and about 
whom various scandals are mooted. 
The deep affection Sir Daniel bears 
for the boy is manifested in his bar¬ 
gain with Lionel that if he should 
prove the rumours to be correct, he, 
Lionel, must give up Mrs. Dane, an I 
if, on the other hand, they v ere 
found to be worthless, Lionel could 
follow his own inclination. A dis¬ 
tinguished iudge is Sir Daniel, and 
he gradually forces the truth from 
Mrs. Dane, proving that whatever her 
present and future may be, the 
past has not been '' altogether 
blameless. 

Sowing the Wind. 4 Acts. By Syd¬ 
ney Grundy. Is Costume, Earl v Vic¬ 
torian Time, 2£ hours 2 Interior. 1 
Exterior Scene; 4 Old Men; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen* 2 Utility: 2 lady 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Ned Annesley, Mr. Brabazon’s 
adopted son, has fallen in love with 
Rosamond Athelstone, a public singer. 
Brabazon withholds his consent to 


DRAMAS. 


TWELVE CHARACTERS 


117 


their union as there is some mystery however, turns out to he his own 
concerning Rosamond’s parentage. She, daughter. 

NINE MALES AND THREE FEMALES. 

FARCES. 


Birthplace of Podgers. 1 Act. By 

J. Hollingshead. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. .1 Interior Scene; 1 Low 
Comedian; 3 Eccentric Comedians; 3 
Utility; 2 Boys; 2 Eccentric Lady 
Comedians; 1 Old Woman. A working 
man’s room having been advertised as 
being the birthplace of the immortal 
poet, Podgers, is besieged with the 
admirers of this celebrity, to the utter 
bewilderment of the present occupier. 
Podgers who previously lived in the 
room was nothing more than a tipsy 
vagabond. 

Steeplechase. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. Modern Costume. Time, 50 min. 


1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Comedian; 4 Utility; 2 
Walking Ladies; 1 Chambermaid. A 
most popular play, and one of Mr. 
Toole’s favourite pieces. A married 
gentleman takes a journey to South¬ 
ampton to meet his wife, who is arriv¬ 
ing by the steamer from Havre. His 
clothes are stolen during the night, so 
he borrows and attires himself in a 
jockey’s costume, is mistaken for 
the jockey who rides the favourite, is 
forcibly compelled to get in the pig¬ 
skin, and eventually wins the steeple¬ 
chase. 


COMEDIES 


David Garrick. 3 Acts. By T. W. 

Robertson. Is. Costume, Period 1742. 
Time, 1 hour 35 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 3 Old Men; 3 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 2 Old Women. This play 
is familiar to most playgoers on ac¬ 
count of the success made in it by the 
late Mr. Sothern. Ada Ingot falls in 


love with David Garrick. Her father, 
in order to cure her infatuation, invites 
Garrick to his house, and induces him 
to behave in a dissipated manner. The 
plan fails. Ada overhears the plot, and 
finally the father asks Garrick to do 
him the honour of accepting his 
daughter’s hand. 


DRAMAS. 


Bunch of Violets. 4 Acts. By Syd¬ 
ney Grundy. Is. Modern Costume. 

Time, 2£ hours. 2 Interior Scenes ; 2 
Comedians; 2 Old Men; 2 Walking 
Gentlemen; 3 Utility; 2 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Lady. . Sir Philip 
Marehant has deserted his wife and 
married again. He has a daughter to 
whom he is greatly attached, and who 
every morning presents him with a 
bunch of violets. Sir Philip, who 

poses as a philanthropist, is a bogus 
Company Promoter, and is in want of 
ready money. His first wife appears, 
havmg married Mark Murgatroyd. and 
threatens to expose him, but prom ; ses 
not to if he will give her the bunch of 
violets he received that morninv. He 
refuses, thereupon she prevents Murga¬ 
troyd paying him a large sum for a 
worthless mine. The crash comes, and 
he commits suicide. 

First Love. 3 Acts. By W. E. Suter. 
Costume, period Charles II. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 1 Interior, 2 FPtcr : or 
Scenes; 3 Comedians; 2 Tragedians; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 2 Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
Camille Du flor, hearing that her first 
love was dead, gives her hand to C°unt 
de Lambert against the dying wish of 
her father. Her first love appears, and 


the plot reveals the downfall and death 
of the Count and her happy union with 
her former lover. 

Litt'e Lord Fauntleroy. 3 Acts. By 
Prances Hodgson Burnett. Is. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians * 1 very good Child’s Part; 4 
Utilities; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid. The Earl 
of Dorin court’s third son marries 
against his father’s wish, and is 
banished from home. He goes to live 
in New York, dies, and leaves a little 
son, Cedric Lrrol, who eventually be¬ 
comes Lord Fauntleroy. and heir to 
his grandfather.. The old Earl sends 
to America for him, and takes him to 
live at Dorincourt Castle, though he 
will have nothing to do with Mrs. 
Errol Cedric’s mother. Little Lord 
Fauntleroy becomes a general favour¬ 
ite and so charms the old Earl that all 
is forgiven. 

Luke the Labourer. 2 Acts. By J. 
B. Buckstone. Country Costume. Time, 
1 hour 45 min. 3 Interior. 3 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 2 Old Men; 1 
Juvenile Lead; 2 Low Comedians; 2 
Utility; 1 Old Woman: 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Chambermaid. Luke the 
Labourer is resolved to have revenge 
on a farmer, Wakefield, who had once 


119 


TWELVE CHARACTERS 


employed him but discharged him on 
account of his dissolute habits. Jt so 
happens that afterwards the fanner 
owed Luke money, and the latter 
causes him to be sent to prison, but is 
released by his daughter's lover paying 
the money. Luke afterwards attempts 
to murder the farmer, whose son, how¬ 
ever, returns, having previously been 
stolen by Luke, and saves his father. 

Serf. 3 Acts. By Tom Taylor. Russian 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 m:n. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Tragedian; 1 Old Man; 1 
Light Comedian; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 3 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
"Walking Lady; 1 Chambermaid. Ivan 
Khorvich, a supposed serf, and Mar¬ 
guerite, the Countess de Manleon, are 
in love with each other. Ivan has 
thrown Count Karateff out of a box at 
the opera for insulting the Countess. 
A duel is imminent, when Karateff dis¬ 
covers that Ivan is one of his own 
serfs, and he degrades him before the 
Countess. It transpires that Ivan is 
not a serf, but Prince Bariutinski, and 
Karateff’s superior. 

Son of the Soil. 3 Acts. By H. C. 
Merivale. Costume, 1795. Time, 2 


hours 30 miu 4 Interior. 2 Exterior 
Fccnes: 2 Comedians; 1 O'd Man; 3 
Walk'ng Gentlemen ; 3 Utility; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid. Louis Martel, a member of 
the Committee of Public Safety, fads 
in love with the daughter of an exiled 
"Duke, who comes to beg of him her 
father’s pardon. This he obtains for 
her. and in many ways proves his de¬ 
votion. 

Ticket-of-Leave Man. 4 Acts. By 
Tom Taylor. Is. Modern Costume. 
Time, 3 hours. 3 Interior. 3 Exterior 
Scenes; 2 Comedians; 2 Traged ans; 
2 Low Comedians; 2 Old Men; 1 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Cham¬ 
bermaid; 1 Old Woman. Robert 
Brierley, a Lancashire lad, is sent to 
penal servitude on a false charge of 
passing bank notes. He is released on 
a ticket-of-Ieave, marries May, a ballad 
singer, whom he had befriended, and 
obtains employment in a bank. He is 
recognised and dismissed, and he and 
his wife are reduced to poverty, when 
he succeeds in thwarting a plot to rob 
the bank, and is reinstated by his 
grateful employer. 


TEN MALES AND TWO FEMALES 
COMEDY. 


Test of Truth. 2 Acts. By W. E. 
Suter. Costume, 1750. Time, 1 hour 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Comedians; 1 
Tragedian: 2 Low Comedians; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Utility; 2 Lady Comedians. 
This is another version of “ Bird in 
Hand,” 10 males and 3 females, but 


brought into 2 Acts instead of 3. An 
une'e favours one nephew but not 
another. His friend prevails upon him 
to give out that he is dead, in order 
that he may witness the actions of the 
two nephews. The result is that he 
reverses his former opinions. 


DRAMA 


Wife’s Secret. 5 Acts. By G. W. 
Lovell. Is. Costume, 1650. Time. 2 
hours 45 min. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Juvenile Lead; 
1 Old Man: 1 Walking Gentleman; 6 
Utility; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Walking 
Lady. A beautifully written play in 
blank verse. Would be highly suitable 
for a dramatic reading. Sir Waiter 
Amyott, a roundhead, in the Parlia¬ 
mentary service, marries Maud, whose 
brother, Lord Arden, has espoused the 


Royal cause. Lord Arden is a fugi¬ 
tive, and seeks refuge in Sir Walter’s 
house, binding his sister on oath not 
to disclose him to her husband. Sir 
Waiter gets to hear of his wife’s action 
through a steward, and is led to believe 
that she is secreting a lover. This 
causes an estrangement between the 
husband and wife, but they are happily 
reconciled when the truth becomes 
known. 


ELEVEN MALES AND ONE FEMALE. 
DRAMA. 


Robber’s Wife. 2 Acts. Bv J. Pocock. 
Early English Costume. Time, 1 hour 
30 min. 2 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 
1 Comedian; 1 Tragedian; 3 Low 

Comedians; 6 Utility; 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian. A girl marries a robber, who is 
ber father’s deadly enemy. The father 


travels to retrieve his fortune, and 
many years afterwards returns and 
falls into the hands of the robbers. The 
daughter recognises her father and 
saves him. The gang is eventually 
destroyed, and father and daughter r* 
conciled. 


THIBTM1C CHARACTERS AWD UPWARDS 


119 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND 
UPWARDS. 

FARCES. 


Happiest Day of My Life. 2 Acts. 

By J. B. Buckstone. 7 Males; 7 
Females. Old-fashioned Costume. Time, 

1 hour 20 min. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout. Describes the misfortunes 
of Mr. G-illman on the morning of his 
marriage, after he had declared it was 
to be the happiest day of his life. 
Everything goes wrong. The band does 
not arrive, and he has to go five miles, 
and then put up with some itinerant 
fiddlers. He then gets mistaken for 
the runaway spouse of another lady, 
and after other perplexities the recon¬ 
ciliation of all parties is at last at¬ 
tained. 

Highwayman. 1 Act. By J. M. Mor¬ 
ton. 13 Males; 3 Females. Old- 
fashioned Costume. Time, 1 hour 3 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes. the 
amusement in this piece arises out of 
the complications which ensue from 
two elopements which take place. 

Man With the Carpet Bag- 1 Act 

By G. A. A’Beckett. 10 Males; 3 
Females. Early English Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 4 Interior Scenes. An 
unscrupulous lawyer, named Grab, is 
employed in Fleece versus Pluckwell, 
an action in which the former hopes to 
recover certain estates on account of 
the title-deeds not existing. These 
deeds are in the possession of Grab, 
who gets his clerk to conceal them in 
a carpet bag. They stop at an inn 
where the landlord has been advised to 
look out for a swindler with, a carpet 
bag. The bag is consequently ex¬ 
amined, the deeds unexpectedly found, 
and the estates secured to Pluckwell. 

Mrs. Smith. 1 Act. By J. H. Payne. 
5 Males; 7 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene. Complications arise in a board¬ 
ing house through two Mrs. Smith’s 
being there. 

My Wife, what Wife? 1 Act. By J. 
Poole. 9 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 2 
Interior Scenes. Young Temple dresses 
up as an old man, and as such marries 
Louisa Melville because her guardian’s 


agent will not allow her to marry a 
young man. He does not disclose him¬ 
self until after the wedding, much to 
Louisa’s joy. 

Nervous Man. 2 Acts. By Bayle Ber¬ 
nard. 11 Males; 4 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 5 In 
terior Scenes. Mr. Aspen is a nervous 
man, but the bane to his existence is a 
Mr. McShane, an Irishman, and a man 
of nerve, who comes uninvited to h ; s 
house, takes his seat in a coach, goes 
to his country house, makes out he is 
the master, and finally to get rid of 
him Mr. Aspen is glad to buy him a 
commission abroad. 

Pendrudge v. Prettiwon. 1 Act. 
By John Wallace, Jun. 11 Males; 3 
Females. Scene: A Court of Justice. 
Modern Costumes. Wigs and Gowns, 
etc., for Judge and Counsel. Time, 1 
hour. 3 Old Men; 2 Character; 2 
Light Comedians; 4 Utility; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Chambermaid; 1 Lady 
Comedian; also Jurymen, Judges, Mar¬ 
shal, Barristers, Solicitors, Reporters, 
Ushers, Policemen, and Spectators, 
etc., ad lib. This is the trial of an 
action for damages brought by Mi. 
Pendrudge, a clerk in the City, against 
Miss Prettiwon, a lady clerk and type¬ 
writer, who has been engaged in bis 
place and thus deprived him of his 
situation. Eventually Mr. Buysell, his 
former employer, agrees to marry the 
defendant, and reinstate the plaintiff 
at an increased salary. 

Pretty Horse Breaker. 1 Act. By 
Wm. Brough and A. Halliday. 3 
Males; 10 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 36 min. 1 Interior Scene. A 
matchmaking mother tries to marry 
one of her seven daughters to a man 
of property. The gentleman, how¬ 
ever, prefers their poor country cousin. 

Water Witches. 1 Act. By J. S. 
Coyne. 9 Males; 6 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scene. A number of young 
ladies, being deserted by their lovers, 
who are having a day up the river, 
dress in male rowing costume and fol¬ 
low their sweethearts. 


COMEDIES. 


Adventures of a Love Letter. 2 

Acts. By C. Mathews. 8 Males, R 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 10 min. 2 Interior See es. 
This is another version of “ The S^rap 
of Paper,” both being taken from the 
same original. 


An American Citizen. 4 Acts. By 

Madeleine Lucette Ryley. Is. Rd. 9 
Males; 5 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2J hours. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes. A report is received at the 
offices of Barbury, Brown, and Cruger, 
solicitors. New York, of the suicide of 


120 THIRTEEN 1 CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


1 ^ 

one of the partners, Brown. The re¬ 
maining partners are not able to find 
some bonds which Brown was security 
for, and Cruger, in order to meet the 
liability, marries his cousin, an Eng¬ 
lish girl, whose father left Cruger his 
fortune on condition he should become 
an Englishman, and marry an English 
woman. The couple part at the church 
door, and do not meet until a year 
after at Nice. Brown turns up, and 
Cruger, having lost his money, has to 
start work again. An investment, turns 
out a success, and all ends happily. 

Babes b in the Wood. 3 Acts. By 
Tom Taylor. Is. 10 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 46 min. 2 Interior Scenes. Frank 
ana ljady Blanch Rushton have been 
clandestinely married, much to the an¬ 
noyance of her father and stepmother, 
and also his father, who respectively 
stop future supplies. They suffer 
various privations, but their patience 
and fortitude are eventually rewarded 
by the obdurate parents relenting and 
restoring them to prosperity. 

Barrister. 3 Acta By J. H. Darnley 
and G. Manville Fenn. 8 Males; 6 
Femalee. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes. Tom Price 
is left in charge of Capt. Arthur 
Walker’s house during his master’s ab¬ 
sence in India, and quietly lets apart¬ 
ments to Arthur Maxwell, a barrister, 
and his wife. Maxwell is retained in 
an important case, but finds to his dis¬ 
may that the papers, are lost, as he 
has exchanged bags with a lady he had 
driven home the day previously. Max¬ 
well then starts off in search of the 
lady with his bag. Mrs. Maxwell gets 
jealous, and further complications 
arise through Capt. Walker’s unex¬ 
pected return. The missing papers 
are at last found just in time for Max¬ 
well to appear in Court. This is one 
of the best of modern farcical comedies. 


Betsy. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By F. C. 
Burnand. 7 Males; 6 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2i hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes. A most successful play, which 
has enjoyed a very long run. Adolphus 
Birkett is blessed with a foolish 
mother, who treats him like a child. 
His chief terror is Betsy, the maid¬ 
servant, who possesses a photograph of 
herself with a written promise of mar¬ 
riage from him. A tutor is obtained 
for him, but meets with sad treatment. 
In short, Adolphus proves himself to 
be anything but what his mother 
imagines. In the end, Betsy is compro¬ 
mised, and Adolphus settles down in 
matrimony. 

Billy’s Little Love Affair. 3 Acts. 
By H. V. Esmond. Is. 6d. 7 Males; 9 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene. 


Jack Frere and Wilhelmina Marr, visit¬ 
ing Mrs. Jim Greaves, considering 
they have much in common, become 
engaged. Mrs. Greaves, rummaging in 
her husband’s room, finds some letters 
from a woman, with whom he has evi 
dently been on friendly terms. Mrs 
Greaves, weighing circumstances to 
gether, concludes it is “ Billy ” Marr 
and openly insults her. As the play 
develops the truth disengages itself, a 
certain Lady Duncan being involved. 

Brace of Partridges. (Farcical.) 3 
Acts. By Robert Ganthony. Is. 6d. 
9 Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 
Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 1 Walking Gentleman: 3 
Utility; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. The Hon.. Arthur Partridge 
and Alfred Partridge, cousins five 
times removed, are exactly alike in 
appearance (the parts are doubled). 
The Hon. Arthur is in love with Peggy 
Stubbs, the daughter of a country inn¬ 
keeper, instead o f Evangeline \ an 
Bock, an American heiress, who has 
been selected for him by his parents. 
Alfred, who is hiding at the inn to 
escape arrest for debt, is introduced to 
Evangeline, and she mistakes h’m p or 
the Hon. Arthur, '’'v* - 
plications follows but eventually Alfred 
pairs off with Evangeline, and Artnur 
having married Heggy, is iorgiveu ^ 
his parents. 

Cabinet Minister. (Farcical.) 4 Acts. 
By A. W. Pinero. Is. 6d. 9 Males; 9 
Females. Modem Costume. Time, 3 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes. Lady 
Twombley, the wife of a Cabinet 
Minister, is ^ery much in debt, and 
matters are coming to a crisis, which, 
to stave off, she borrows from a Jew 
financier, who makes it a condition 
that he shall be invited to the house 
and stay with the family in Scotland. 
Here he misbehaves himself, and in¬ 
sults the guests. Lady Twombley. by 
a lucky speculation, redeems her bills, 
and gets rid of him. 

Case of Rebellious Susan. 3 Acts. 

By Henry Arthur Jones. 2s. 6d. 9 

Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume 
Time, 2£ hours. 3 Interior Scenes. 
James Harabin has been making love 
to a certain Lady Sewell. His wife 
has found him out, and she is deter¬ 
mined not to forgive him. She goes 
to Cairo. falls in love with 
Lucien Edensor, and consents to 
run away with him. Her uncle pre¬ 
vents thjs, and she afterwards hears 
that Lucien is married to another lady. 
The despondency thus created in Lady 
Susan’s mind induces her to make the 
best of her married life and be recon¬ 
ciled to her husband. 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


121 


Cyril'* Success. 5 Acts. By H. J. 

Byron. Is. 10 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 45 
min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
Cyril Cuthbert, a clever dramatist and 
author, is rather spoiled by his suc¬ 
cess, and neglects his wife. She picks 
up a letter from a Mrs. Bliss, which 
Major Treherne has accidentally 
dropped, and thinking it is addressed 
to her husband, she, with the advice 
of a cross-grained man-hater, Miss 
Grannett, leaves him. After this every¬ 
thing goes wrong with Cyril; all his 
books and plays are failures, and meet¬ 
ing Treherne at the club, and suspect¬ 
ing him of being implicated in Mrs. 
Cuthbert’s disappearance, he insults 
him, and a duel ensues. Cyril thinks 
he has killed Treherne, and has a 
serious illness. The truth comes out, 
his wife returns, and they are recon¬ 
ciled. 

Extremes. 3 Acts. By E. Falconer. 
Is. 8 Males; 6 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 50 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene. George Hawthorne, a 
millionaire, dies and leaves the bulk of 
his fortune to his nephew, Francis 
Hawthorne, and his second wife’s 
niece, on condition that they marry 
within six months. They have not met 
before, but manage during the required 
period to fall in love with each other 
after many disquieting scenes. 
Fascinating; Mr. Vanderveldt. 4 
Acts. By Alfred Sutro. Library 
Edition, 2s. 6d. (Acting Edition will 
follow at Is. 6d.) 9 Males; 8 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours, 30 
min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
This play is not at present available 
for amateurs, but will be in the course 
of a few months. For am.usement. 
Lady Clarice Howland is driven to a 
certain Mr. Vanderveldt, a fascinating 
libertine, whose deeds are told in un¬ 
dertones. Colonel Rayner greatly ob¬ 
jects to this friendship; but, though 
liking the Colonel deeply, Lady Clarice 
yet dallies with Vanderveldt. The 
latter proposes, and is promptly re¬ 
fused. Then he lays a plot to compro¬ 
mise her—clever, cunning, well-thought 
out; but one little flaw he does not 
reckon with. This enables Lady Clarice 
to emerge triumphantly, and Vander¬ 
veldt gives way to Rayner for good. 

Guv’nor. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By E. 
G. Lankester. Is. 10 Males; 4 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 4 
Old Men; 4 Low Comedians; 2 Walk¬ 
ing Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman; 3 
Ladies. Freddy Butterscotch and 
Theodore Macclesfield are in love 
with each other’s sisters. Old Butter¬ 
scotch thinks Theodore is after his 
young wife, and finding out the ad¬ 
dress, he interviews old Macclesfield, 
thinking he is talking to his wife’s 
lover. Old Macclesfield, who is ex¬ 
ceedingly deaf, does not understand 
what is being said, and his replies add 


to the confusion. Matters are, how¬ 
ever, cleared up in the end. 


Hobby Horse. 3 Acts. By A. W 
Pinero. Is. 6d. 10 Males; 5 Females. 

Modern Costume. Time, 3 hours. 1 
Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. Mr. Jer- 
myn is devoted to sport, and h?s de¬ 
vised a scheme for turning a disused 
farmhouse into a Home for Decayed 
Jockeys, which is presided over by a 
young clergyman. Rev. Noel Brice. His 
wife, Mrs. Jermyn, is charitably m- 
cliued, but hates sport, and finds happi¬ 
ness in ministering to the necessities of 
the poor in the East End. Mrs. Jer¬ 
myn, in carrying out her project, 
assumes the name of Miss Moxon, and 
under this name is made love to by the 
Rev. Noel Brice. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Jermyn’s schemes are failures, and they 
mutually resolve to provide a home for 
their son, who is engaged to a niece of 
the Rev. Noel Brice. 

Hundred Thousand Pounds. 3 
Acts. By H. J. Byron. 9 Males; 4 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours.. 2 Interior Scenes. Gerald 
Goodwin is supposed to have come into 
£100,000 on the death of his uncle. He 
discards the girl he is engaged to, and 
mixes with bad companions. The uncle 
eventually is found to be alive, Gerald 
is deserted by his companions, but 
effects a reconciliation with the girl he 
had forsaken. 


In Chancery. (Farcical.) In 3 Acts. 
By A. W. Pinero. Is. 6d. 7 Males; 
6 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 
2 Comedians; 1 Low Comedian; 4 

Walking Gentlemen; 4 Lady Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Ladies. A 
collision occurs near Stapleton 
Junction. Montague Joliffe is 
seriously injured and brought to the 
railway tavern. The injury results 
m his total loss of memory—he can¬ 
not even remember if he is married. 
Assuming he is not, during con¬ 
valescence a marriage is arranged w'th 
the landlord’s daughter. There comes 
to the inn a detective, named Hink- 
man, looking for a man, Smith, 
clandestinely married to a ward in 
Chancery. He mistakes Joliffe for 
the individual. Mr. and Mrs. Sm : th 
arrive at the tavern, and a farcica 
scene follows. 

Liars. In 4 Acts. By Henry Arthur 
Jones. 2s. 6d. 10 Males; 6 Fe¬ 

males. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 4 Interior Scenes. ’ A 
violent infatuation takes possession of 
Edward Falkner. the object of his 
affection being Lady Jessica Nepean, 
married to a man who pays her no 
attention. Society commences to talk, 
and Nepean, hearing the rumours, for- 
bids^ his wife to have further com- 
munication with Falkner. She goes 


122 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS 


into the country for the week end, and 
arranges to meet Falkner at a river 
aide inn on the Monday. Nepean’s 
brother being in the neighbourhood, 
comes upon the couple unexpectedly, 
and immediately wires to his brother. 
A scene takes place in London, much 
lying being requisitioned in the en¬ 
deavour to explain the affair. Nepean 
is, however, obdurate. Colonel Deer- 
ing, devoted friend of Falknet, finally 
manages to make the pair see the folly 
of their action, and an amicable re¬ 
union to Nepean takes place. 

London Assurance. 5 Acts. By 
Dion Boucicault. Is. 10 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 50 min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes. Sir Harcourt Courtly, an old 
beau, is about to marry Grace Hark- 
away, and her uncle, Max Harkaway, 
has come up to town to escort him back 
to Gloucestershire for the ceremony. 
Max there meets Dazzle, who has 
brought Sir Harcourt’s son, Charles, 
home drunk after a night round town. 
Max invites Dazzle to the wedding, and 
Dazzle asks Charles, who is on the 
point of being arrested for debt, to ac¬ 
company him. Charles falls in love 
with Grace, and when Sir Harcourt ar¬ 
rives and recognises him as his own 
son he denies his identity. _ However, 
the truth comes out, and in the end 
Sir Harcourt hands Grace over to 
Charles. 

Magistrate. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. 
By A. W. Pinero. Is. 6d. 12 

Males; 4 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2£ hours. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Mr. Posket,. a police 
magistrate, has married a widow with 
one son, and she has deceived him 
about their ages. Posket meets Col. 
Lukyn. an old friend from India, who 
knew Mrs. Posket in early days. She 
determines to see Lukyn and explain 
matters about the bov’s age. She fol¬ 
lows him from his club to a restaurant, 
and gets arrested for being on licensed 
premises after hours. The parties give 
false names and addresses, and they 
are brought up before Mr. Posket, who 
sentences them to seven days without 
the option of a fine. Everything is 
then put right bv a fellow-magistrate. 

Man of Many Friends. 3 Acts. By 
,T. Stirling Coyne. 8 Males; 6 Females. 
Modern Costume. 1 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes. Time, 2 hours. Peter 
Popples has been a doll-maker, and 
come into a large fortune. He is much 
annoyed at the various friends who 
force themselves unon him and are en¬ 
couraged by his wife, and is determined 
to get rid of them, which he does by 
first leading them to believe he is 
ruined then causing them to think he 
has hoaxed them, and quietly intimates 
that he is going to give a five hundred 
guinea present to his best friend, which 
causes them all to quarrel and libel 
each other. 


Man with Three Wives. (Far¬ 
cical.) 3 Acis. By C. M. Rae. 
7 Males; 7 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 2 
Interior, I Exterior Scenes. Jack 
Howard and Ralph Newcombe are fel¬ 
low artists. Jack has an uncle who 
will disinherit him if he marries, and 
Ralph an uncle who will leave him a 
fortune if he does not marry. To bam¬ 
boozle these two uncles and to screen 
Jack, Ralph first makes out that Polly 
Pigeon, a model. i3 his wife. Secondly, 
he tells his uncle that he is married to 
Caroline, the landlady’s daughter, and, 
thirdly, he informs Jack’s uncle that he 
is going to be married to Violet, Jack’s 
intended. After some wild farcical 
scenes Jack and Ralph both select 
suitable partners, and the uncles are 
satisfied. 

Manoeuvres of Jane. In 4 Acts. 

By Henry Arthur Jones. 2s. 6d. 

10 Males ; 11 Females. Modern 

Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 
4 Interior Scenes. Mr. Nangle, 

as a last resource, sends his dis¬ 
obedient daughter Jane to Chaney 
Court, residence of Lord Bapchild, 
where she can be subdued under the 
auspices of a Mrs. Beechinor, an old 
schoolmistress. It is hoped that Jane 
and Lord Bapchild will eventually 
become engaged. Jane’s heart is else¬ 
where, and manages by skilful 
manoeuvring to thwart everybody’s 
plans and marry the man of her 

choice. 


Money. 5 Acts. By Lord Lytton. 17 
Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 45 min. 7 Interior 
Scenes.. Alfred Evelyn unexpectedly 
comes into a large fortune. He is in 
love with Clara Douglas, but, believing 
she has rejected him, becomes engaged 
to Georgina, daughter of Sir John 
Vesey. Evelyn, suspecting the sin¬ 
cerity of his friends, pretends he has 
gambled away his wealth, and finds 
himself abandoned by Georgina and 
his former acquaintances, with the ex¬ 
ception of Clara, who pays the whole 
of her fortune to Evelyn’s credit at his 
bank. Evelyn confesses his subterfuge, 
and weds Clare. 


My Awful Da.d. 2 Acts. By C. 
Mathews. 8 Males; 5 Females. Modprn 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes. A father is the torment of his 
son. a sedate barrister. He enters his 
son’s office, sends the clerks out on 
love expeditions, tries on a Punch’s 
costume for a fancy ball, receives a fair 
client in this dress, hidden by his son’s 
gown, and adopts all kinds of means to 
extract money from his offspring's 
pocket. His final marriage with the 
fair client and promise of reform make 
a droll conclusion. 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


123 


New Men and Old Acres. 3 Acts. 
By T. Taylor and A. W. Dubourg. Is. 
11 Males; 5 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes. The proud 
Vavaseurs, of Cleve Abbey, are forced 
to sell their estates to Samuel Brown, 
a Liverpool merchant. Their daughter 
Lillian gradually falls in love with 
Brown, and is enabled to keep the old 
acres in the family. 


On Bail. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By W. S. 
Gilbert. 8 Males; 7 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time. 1 hour 50 min. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Mr. I ovibond, having 
been committed for trial for contempt 
of Court, goes out to enioy a supper 
party. In the meantime his bail is not 
accepted, and the police come to arrest 
him. An old lover of Mrs. Lovibond 
calls during his absence, and is at once 
seized by the police as the delinquent. 
Most farcical complications ensue, 
which are finally settled by the Grand 
Jury throwing out the bill against Mr. 
Lovibond. 


Passport 3 Acts. By B. C. Stephen¬ 
son and W. Ya'rdley. Is. 6d. 9 Males; 5 
Females. Modern Costume with some 
uniform. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Mrs. Darcy, an attractive 
widow, is trying to get on to Moscow 
to be present at a wedding. She is 
detained on the frontier on account 
of having no passrort. Ferdinand 
Sinclair possesses the necessary docu¬ 
ment. beaming his and his vrife’s 
names. His wife having been kept 
behind he thereupon allows Mrs. 
Darcy to proceed " ith him, passing as 
Mrs Sinclair. This innocent act of 
courtesy subsequently leads to no end 
of misunderstanding. 

School. 4 Acts. By T. W. Bobertson. 
Is. 6 Ma’^s; 9 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 21 hours. 2 Interior, 
2 Exterior Scenes. One of "Robertson's 
most successful pieces. Bella has been 
adopted by the Sutcliffes, the owners 
of a ladies’ school. She is tb e bosom 
friend of an heiress, Naomi Tighe. cne 
of the pupils. Mr. Far ; ntosh is anxious 
that his nephew. Lord Beaufoy. should 
marry Naomi Tighe, but Beaufoy falls 
in love with Bella, while his friend. 
Jack Povntz. encounters Naomi with 
similar effect. Bella, through a re¬ 
vengeful master, is expelled, but re¬ 
turns as Lady Beaufoy. and is dis¬ 
covered to be a long-lost grand¬ 
daughter of Mr. Farintosh. 

Schoolfellows. 2 Ac+s. By Douglas 
Jerrold. 10 Males; 3 Females. Period 
1735. Time, l hour 40 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes. Jaspar re¬ 


turns to his old school, from which he 
had run away many years previous'y. 
He wishes to learn from his master the 
secret about his parentage, and unex¬ 
pectedly meets his uncle, who is en¬ 
abled to give him the necessary ex¬ 
planation, and he becomes engaged to 
the uncle’s daughter. 

Schoolmistress. 3 Acts. By A. W. 
Pinero. Is. 6d. 9 Males; 7 Females 

Modern Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 3 
Interior Scenes. The Hon. Vere 
Queckett is an impecunious member 
of the aristocracy, whom Mrs. Queckett 
has married for his position in society. 
“ keeping him ” out of the profits of 
her coPege. These proving insufficient 
to provide for his extravagance, she 
resolves to go upon the stage as a 
comic opera artist. During her ab¬ 
sence Queckett gets up a supper party, 
when news is brought that the house is 
on fire, and all have to use the fre 
escape, Mrs. Queckett arriving in the 
attire of a queen of opera bouffe. The 
piece is full of farcical situations, and 
creates roars of laughter the whole 
time. 


Society. 3 Acts. By T. W. Robertson. 
Is. 16 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 4 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes. Sidney 
Daryl, a literary man, is introduced to 
a wealthy vulgarian and his son, 
Chodd, sen., and Chodd, jun., who are 
ready to find funds for a newspaper, 
Chodd, sen., thinking that by this 
means he can introduce his son into 
society. Daryl is not disposed to enter¬ 
tain the proposals made by these two, 
and is embittered tow’ards them by an 
announcement being made that his 
fiancee, Maud Hetherington, is engaged 
to Chodd, jun. Daryl ifterwards de¬ 
feats his rival at an elect’on. is 
discovered to be a baronet, and is made 
happy by Maud sharing his exalted 
position. 

Solicitor. (Farcical Comedy.) 3 Acts. 
By J. H. Darnley. 8 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern and Military Costume. Time, 
2f hours. 2 Interior Scenes. A very 
successful farcical comedy. Gilbert 
Brandon, a solicitor, is wagered that 
he will not drive a hansom cab, that is 
found unattended, along Piccadilly. 
He accepts the bet, and is hailed by 
his own wife, who orders him to drive 
to a house, where he witnesses her 
kissed by a soldier, who after-wards 
proves to be her own brother. He is 
then comnelled to drive two burglars 
with some stolen property. The real 
cabman is brought before the magis¬ 
trate, and Brandon is requested bv his 
partner to defend the man. From 
these incidents wild complications en¬ 
sue before the unfortunate Brando* 
and his wifr are reconciled. 


124 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND tTRWARDi 


Sour Grapes. 4 Acts. By H. J. 
Byron. 10 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 3 hours. 2 Exterior, 
2 Interior Scenes. Lord Lorraine, hav¬ 
ing been heartlessly deceived by a lady 
of fashion, falls in love with Lydia 
Fane, the niece of an old agricultural 
couple, and woos her under the dis¬ 
guise of a farming man. His proud 
mother exposes him, wishing him to 
marry someone else, and informing 
Lydia that he is already engaged, she 
extracts a promise from her that she 
will never marry Lord Lorraine. Lor¬ 
raine discovers the plot, and announc¬ 
ing that his elder brother, who was 
thought to be dead, is still alive, Lydia 
can marry him as the Hon. Arthur 
Lorraine, without sacrificing her word. 
Ti mes (The). 4 Acts. By A. W. Pinero. 
Is. 6 d. 6 Males; 7 Females. Modern 

Costume. Time, 3 hours. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout. Mr. Percy Egerton- 
Bompas has made a fortune as a linen 
draper. He is proud to w-rite M.P. to 
his name, has great ambition to be in¬ 
troduced into society, and rejoices at 
the thought that his daughter is sought 
after by Lord Lurgashall. But a ter¬ 
rible shock comes when his son and 
heir appears, having married a pretty 
but vulgar Irish girl, whose mother 
also arrives. Bompas, in his despair, 
endeavours to introduce them as ladies, 
but it turns out a failure, and at last 
he flings away his ambition, resigns his 
place in Parliament, and resolves to 
go abroad and live quietly. 

Time Works Wonders. 6 Acts. By 
I). Jerrold. Is. 10 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 50 
min. 5 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
Clarence Norman, nephew of Sir Gil¬ 
bert Norman, induces Florentine to 
run away from school, but they are 
overtaken and she returns. Five years 
later Sir Gilbert falls in love with 
Florentine, but, seeing how the land 
lies, makes a virtue of necessity, and 
the two young lovers are united. 

Turned Up. 3 Acts. By Mark Mel- 
ford. 7 Males; 6 Females. Modern 
Costume. T>me, 2 hours 10 min. 1 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scene. Mrs. Med¬ 
way, thinking her husband, a captain, 
has been drowned, marries Carrawj&y 
Bones, an undertaker. The captain, 
hotvever, turns up, followed by Cleo¬ 
patra, a black woman, who has nursed 
him through an illness, and to whom 
he is supposed to have been married. 
She brings a black boy with her, and 
the complications that ensue are very 
funny. 

Tw ins. (Farcical.) 3 Acts. By Joseph 
TVrrick. 8 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. _ 2 Interior 
Scenes. A very comical niece. Pro¬ 
fessor Titus Spinach. LL.D., Professor 
of Dead Languages, Banglepore, comes 


to London to raise fund* for his own 
pocket, but ostensibly on behalf of the 
little Hindoos, and seems to bamboozle 
everyone he comes in contact with. He 
reaches a seaside hotel, where his twin 
brother happens to be waiter, and is so 
much like him that he gets mistaken 
for the waiter, and vice-versa. Various 
complications ensue until the final ex¬ 
planations are forthcoming. 

Wedding: March. 5 Acts. By W. S. 
Gilbert. 11 Males; 6 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 45 min. 4 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes. Mr. Wood¬ 
pecker Tapping is about to be married. 
His horse has eaten a lady's leghorn 
hat in the park. He promises to call 
at a milliner’s on his way to church 
to procure a new one, and begs the lady 
to wait in his rooms. The milliner 
happens to be an old flame of his. The 
wedding party appears, and mistakes 
the milliner’s shop for the registrar’s 
office. The wedding party afterwards 
manage to get run in at the police 
station. Woodpecker is at last enal led 
to give the lady a similar hat to the 
one destroyed, and all difficulties are 
smoothed over. 

When We were Twenty-One. 4 

Acts. By H. V. Esmond. Is. 6 d. 9 
Males; 5 Females. Modern Costume. 

2 Interior Scenes. Time, 2 hours 30 
mm. Richard Audaine, nicknamed the 
“Imp,” is consigned -by his father’s 
will to the care of four friends. He is 
engaged to Phyllis Ericson, but falls 
in love with an actress, and secretly 
marries her. Dick Carewe. one of the 
four, endeavours unsuccessfully to pre¬ 
vent the marriage, but is enabled to 
show the Imp the true character of the 
actress. Phyllis confesses she only be¬ 
came engaged to the Imp because it 
was Dick’s wish, and gladly accepts 
his offer of marriage. 

Whitewashing: Julia. 3 Acts. By 
Henry Arthur Jones. 2s. 6 d. 6 Males- 
10 Females. Modern Costume. Time’ 

2i hours. 3 Interior Scenes. The little 
social world of Shanctonbury is very 
concerned on the reappearance 
of a Mrs. Wren at a local function. 
Owing to certain ^ rumours, Mrs, 
Wren had been banished from their 
society. Lady Pinkney, the 
dowager of the select, before admit¬ 
ting to know her, insists on an ex- 
planatory. statement of the incidents 
in question, but the position she 
assumes is ridiculous when she first 
places herself under considerable 
obligation and then by her brother 
falling m love with Mrs. Wren. The 
allegations are proved to br 
practically worthless, and harmony 
re ie - ns 0Tlce more j n Shanctonbury 

Wilderness. 3 Acts. By H V Es- 
™™d. Is. 6 d. 7 Males; 8 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 
. 2 Interior. 1 Exterior Scene*. 
Mabel Weston thinks she is in lov* 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


125 


with Jack Kennerly, who is poor, but, 
loving rank and fortune, she marries 
Sir Harry Milanor, who finds a letter 
she has written to Jack stating she is 
simplv marrying for position and 
wealth. Sir Harry resolves to leave 
the house, but Mabel confesses that 
since her marriage she has really fallen 
in love with her husband. 

Voman of the World. 3 Acts. By 
J. S. Coyne. 9 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 
min. 5 Interior Scenes. Frank Merri- 
ton arrives at the house of Gideon 


Goldenbird, a supposed millionaire, 
with the intention of forming a matri¬ 
monial alliance with Gideon’s niece, 
Alice Brandon, who, however, prefers 
a poor dramatic author, Sheridan 
Jones. Frank becomes fascinated with 
a widow, Mrs. Eddystone, whom he 
afterwards marries. Gideon becomes a 
bankrupt, and his niece being united to 
Jones, the latter are in very poor cir¬ 
cumstances, but are helped by Mrs. 
Eddystone for a time, until at last he 
gets one of his plays accepted by a 
manager. 


DRAMAS. 


Arrah na Pogue. See MS. plays. 

Bells. 3 Acts. By L. Lewis. 11 
Males; 3 Females. Alsatian Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. A strong and exciting drama, 
well-known on account of Sir Henry 
Irving’s famous impersonation of 
Mathias, the wealthy burgomaster 
of Alsace, who is about to wed his 
daughter to Christian. Mathias had 
15 years previously slain a Polish Jew 
for the sake of his money, and which 
raised him to his present position. He 
is filled with remorse, and during his 
sleep his dream is enacted, and in 
which he is mesmerised and made to 
act the scene of the murder in a court 
of justice. This has such an effect 
upon him that he is killed by the 
shock. 

Calthorpe Case. 4 Acts. By Arthur 

Goodrich. 11 Males; 3 Femajes. 
Modern Costume. Time, 3 hours. 3 
Interior Scenes. An honest man, 
tempted to dishonour for the sake of 
his sick wife, has misappropriated trust 
money and gambled it away. The only 
way in which he can recover his loss 
is by obtaining a reward of £5,000 
offered for the discovery of a daughter 
of an eccentric old millionaire. Luck 
is against him, and he is at last driven 
to the desperate expedient of substi¬ 
tuting his own step-daughter for the 
missing child. 

Cf*^illa’s Husband. 3 Acts. By 
Watts Phillips. 11 Males; 5 Females. 
Costume, period 1762. Time, 2 hours. 
3 Exterior, 5 Interior Scenes. Lady 
Camilla is left a fortune which she is to 
inherit on attaining the age of 21, pro¬ 
vided she is married. To escape from 
the attentions of Sir Philip Hailstone 
she runs away, and arriving at a coun¬ 
try inn she offers a large sum to anyone 
who will marry her provided he leaves 
her directly after the ceremony. 
Maurice Warner, a penniless artist, 
accepts her offer. She marries him 
and goes away, hut Warner afterwards 
saves her life, and then becomes 
famous in his art. and. they discover 
they are in love with each other. 


Charms. 4 Acts. By Sir C. L. Young. 

8 Males; 6 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 3 
Interior Scenes. Arthur Medwyn comes 
into a fortune, and Count Rochegune, 
an adventurer, forces the Marchesa de 
Toriana, who is really his wife, to make 
love to Arthur and induce him to play 
cards, so that the Count may win his 
money. This she undertakes to do 
but falls in love with Arthur. She con¬ 
fesses her deception, and leaves him. 
Arthur goes back to the girl he was 
engaged to, and Rochegune is arrested 
for the murder of one of his confede¬ 
rates. 

Comedy and Tragedy. Drama. 1 
Act. By W. S. Gilbert. 14 Males; 2 
Females. Costume, 18th century. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene. The 
Due D’Orleans is making love to 
Clarice, an actress, when her husband, 
D’Aulnay, appears on the scene. They 
retire to the garden to fight a duel, 
and as some of the Due’s attendants 
come to look for him, Clarice, to pre¬ 
vent them interfering with the fight, 
entertains them with representations 
of comedy and tragedy, the climax 
being reached with the entry of D’Aul¬ 
nay after killing the Due. 

Courier of Lyons. Acts. 10 Males ; 
3 Females. French Costume, period, 
1795. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 4 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes. The leading 
actor in this play takes the dual 
characters of an innkeeper’s son and 
an escaped criminal, the likeness be¬ 
tween them causing the one to nearly 
fall a victim to the crimes of the other. 

Critic, or a Tragedy Rehearsed. 

2 Acts. By R. B. Sheridan. 16 Males; 
5 Females. Costume. 1777 and Eliza¬ 
bethan. Time, 2 hours. Usual to omit 
1 st Act, and play 2nd Act in one Scene. 
This is a burlesque rehearsal of a 
Tragedy, which Puff, the author, super¬ 
intends on the stage. The story treats 
of the Spanish Armada, and constant 
diverting interruptions are made by 
the dramatis person®, the prompter, 
and others, 


126 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS 


Daisy Farm. 4 Acts. By H. J. Byron. 
10 Males; 4 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 20 min. 3 In¬ 
terior, 2 Exterior Scenes. Andrew Arm¬ 
strong and his wife, Bridget, live at 
Daisy Farm. Bridget has a son Charles 
by a former marriage. Charles is in 
difficulties, having appropriated his em¬ 
ployer’s money, and fails to borrow to 
replace it. A tramp arrives and re¬ 
presents to Andrew he is Bridget's 
first husband, and Andrew gives him 
£500 hush money. Charles perceives 
this, and robs the tramp of the money. 
This robbery is discovered, Charles 
afterwards forgiven, and the tramp 
proved to be an impostor, and not 
Bridget’s husband. 

Dancing- Girl. 4 Acts. By Henry Arthur 
Jones. Is. 6d. 9 Males; 7 Females. 

Modern Costume. 2 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes. An utterly unregener¬ 
ate Pagan is Druscilla Ives, daughter 
of a Quaker farmer. She comes to 
London and commences a liason with 
the Duke of Guisebury. The latter 
has one redeeming feature—courage, 
for he has saved Sybil Crake from 
a carriage accident, and she, in re¬ 
turn, promises to come to his aid as 
he did to hers. Druscilla returns to 
her home and ensnares her sister’s 
lover in her toils. The Quaker father 
eventually discovers his daughter’s 
method of living and comes to Lon¬ 
don to rescue her. His mission is 
fruitless, and as a last resource, curses 
Druscilla who falls fainting to the 
floor. The Duke prepares to put an 
end to his life, but his good angel 
Sybil fulfils her promise and “ pulls 
him from under the horses’ hoofs.” 
In the last act it is intimated that 
Druscilla has gone abroad and died, 
G-uisebury eventually marrying Sybil. 

Oanicheffs. 3 Acts. By Arthur Shir¬ 
ley. 10 Males; 5 Females. Russian 
Costume, date 1851. Time, 2 hours. 
3 Interior Scenes. The Countess Dani- 
cheff. a proud Russian noblewoman, 
desiring that her absent son Vladimir 
may marry a lady of equal rank to his 
own, and hearing that he is secretly 
betrothed to a beautiful serf girl, Anna, 
compels the girl to marry a fellow serf 
named Osip, before her son’s return. 
Osip, knowing Anna’s affection for his 
young master, thwarts the Countess’s 
scheme by entering the church and re¬ 
signs his bride to the Count Vladimir. 


Deborah. 3 Acts. By C. S. Cheltnam. 
7 Males; 6 Females. Costume, period 
171—. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 In¬ 
terior, 7 Exterior Scenes. Another 
version of the well-known play. “ Leah 
the Forsaken.’’ Deborah, a Jewish 
taaiden, falls in love with Joseph, a 


young Christian, who deserts her for 
Anna, whom he marries. Deborah 
curses him at the church door, but in 
after years returns to die at the house 
of Joseph and Anna with words of 
forgiveness and blessings on her lips. 


Diplomacy. See MS. plays. 

Fine Feathers. 3 Acts and Prologue. 
By H. J. Byron. 9 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 40 
min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
Harry G-reville, the presumed adopted 
son of a circus proprietor, comes into 
the estates at Gaisford Hall. He is en¬ 
gaged to Ruth, the supposed daughter 
of the circus master; but Ethel Car- 
lingford. the next of kin to the estate, 
endeavours to win his affections. It 
eventually transpires that Harry is the 
son of the circus master, and Ruth the 
heiress to the estate. 

Handfast. See MS. plays. 

Harvest Home. 3 Acts. By Tom 
Parry. 14 Males; 4 Females. Country 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 40 min. 4 
Interior; 5 Exterior Scenes. Cecil is 
in possession of Derwent Hall, which 
he inherits in case a young girl to 
whom it has been left should not be 
found. Caleb Kestrel has been the 
means of keeping this girl from her 
property. He pretends he is her father, 
and to further his own ends he shoots 
Cecil, and a young farmer is accused 
of the crime. The wound, however, is 
not fatai, and Cecil again appears and 
denounces Caleb. The play concludes 
with the oetrothal of Cecil and the 
newly-found heiress. 


”**«■ Kirk ® , 4 Acts. By Steele 
Mackaye. 9 Males: 5 Females. Modern 
Cost unie. Time, 2? hours. 1 Exterior, 
2 Interior Scenes: 1 Juvenile Lead; 2 
Old Men; 1 Light Ccmedian; 2 Low 
Comedians; 3 Utility; 1 Juvenile 
Lady; 2 Old Women: 1 Lady Come¬ 
dian; 1 Utility. Hazel Kirke has been 
engaged for years to Souire Rodney 
an elderly man. Her father. Dunstan 
Kirke,_ rescues Lord Travers from 
drowning, takes him home, and he is 
nursed bv Hazel. They fall in love 
with each other, and run away and 
get married. Dunstan curses his 
daughter, and forbids any of his family 
ever to sneak to her again. Hazel is 
led to believe that her marriage was 
not a legal one and she leaves her hus¬ 
band and returns to her father. He 
is still obdurate, and she tries to com¬ 
mit suicide, but is rescued by her hus¬ 
band, who has followed her. It is 
proved that the marriage was legal, 
and all are reconciled. 


Henry Dunbar. 4 Acts. B y T Tav- 

lor 10 Males; 3 Females/ Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 8 
Interior Scenes. Henry Dunbar ha» 
just returned after a long absence in 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


127 


India, where he ha8 made a fortune. 
He is met at the boat by Wentworth, 
a man he has wronged in his youth. 
Wentworth murders him, and assumes 
his name and position. In the end he 
is discovered, and dies when he is on 
the point of being arrested. 

Vdler. 4 Acts. By Haddon Chambers. 
Is. 6d. 5 Males; 4 Females. Modern 
Costume. .Time, 23 hours. 1 Exterior, 
2 Interior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 3 Come¬ 
dians; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Lady Comedians; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Mark Cross, known as an 
“ Idler,” owing to a loveless marriage 
has become cynical. He returns from 
mining in America, and finds a girl 
he formerly loved now the wife of Sir 
John Harding, whom he recognises as 
one who has shot Felix Strong in a 
duel. Felix’s brother, Simeon, arrives, 
vowing vengeance on his brother’s sup¬ 
posed murderer. Lady Harding dis¬ 
covers this, and allows Mark Cross to 
pay his attentions to her in order to 
save her husband, by inducing Strong 
to forego bis intentions. Sir John 
Harding misinterprets his wife’s ac¬ 
tions and casts her off, and endeavours 
to force a duel with Mark, but Simeon 
Strong interposes. Husband and wife 
ire reconciled, and Mark prepares for 
» long voyage. 

b* Danger. 3 Acts. By W. Lestocq 
and Henry Cresswell. 11 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2£ 
hours. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
Kate and Lily Doran are unwilling in¬ 
mates of a gambling-house at Monaco. 
Major Owen insults them, and Alan 
Stanford comes to their rescue, and in 
the struggle that follows he kills the 
Major in self-defence. Kate, to save 
her lover, lets it be thought that she 
has stabbed Owen, and she is on the 
point of being arrested when every¬ 
thing is satisfactorily explained. 

Ironfounder (The). 4 Acts. By W. 
Muskerry. 10 Males; 5 Fema'es. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2£ hours 3 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. Claire de 
Beaulieu, the proud and beautiful 
daughter of a French Marquis, is loved 
by Philippe Derblay. a self-made man. 
whose lands join the estates of her 
late father. Claire is engaged to her 
cousin, the Duke de Bligny. but, 
piqued bv the artful insinuations of 
Alathea Pedgift, daughter of a rich 
and vulgar parvenu, she breaks off the 
engagement and marrieg Phib'ppe 
without, loving him. How her hus¬ 
band’.* manliness, patience, and cour¬ 
age serve to win the heart of the 
haughty girl, until her indifference 
turns to affection, and even develops 
into the most passionate adoration is 
shown with force and feeling as the 
play progresses. 

Jessie Vere; op, The Return of 
the Wanderer. 2 Acts. Bv C H. 
Hazlewood. 13 Males; 6 Females. 


Modern Costume, Time, 2 hours IB 
min. 3 Interior, 7 Exterior Scenes. 
The Hon. Arthur Fanshawe. through 
the sudden death of his brother, comes 
into a baronetcy. He had secretly mar¬ 
ried Jessie Vere, the daughter of a 
country clergyman. Through the 
machinations of his half-brother, Segis- 
mund. be behaves cruelly to her, and 
she returns to her father. Arthur re¬ 
pents. seeks forgiveness, and Segis- 
mund is brought to justice. 

Jiit. In 5 Acts. By Dion Boucicault. 
9 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 
3 Interior Scenes. 'Ihe “ Jilt,” a 
celebrated London belle, Lady Milli- 
cent Woodstock, before her marriage 
has played havoc with several young 
men’s hearts, amongst them Mr. Fred. 
Dacre, who, in revenge, on his death¬ 
bed sends the supposedly compromis¬ 
ing letters of Lady Millicent to one 
of his executors, the rascally Lord 
Marcus Wylie, with instructions to 
forward them to her husband. Know¬ 
ing Lady Millicent is very fond of her 
husband, Lord Marcus promises to 
hand back the letters to the writer if 
she. Lads' Millicent, will obtain Wood¬ 
stock’s consent to his marriage with a 
relative. The relative overhears the 
conversation, and Lord Marcus, 
thwarted at every turn, sends the 
letters to Lord Woodstock. This 
gentleman tears them up at once 
without taking further notice. 

Jim, the Penman. See MS. plays. 

Judah. 3 Acts. By Henry Arthur 
Jones. 2s. 6d. 10 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2£ hours. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. Vashti 
Dethic, urged on by her father, pre¬ 
tends she has extraordinary cowers of 
healing, but in exercising them she 
has to fast. Lord Asgarby’s daughter 
Eve is dying, and she undertakes to 
cure her. Judah Llewellyn, a minis¬ 
ter. falls in love with Vashti, and. 
while believing her powers at first, 
discovers she is deceiving everybody. 
Notwithstanding this, he persists m 
marrying her. but first she has to ad¬ 
mit the deceit she has practised. 

Lady of Lyons. 5 Acts. By Lord 
Lytton. 12 Males; 5 Females. Cos¬ 
tume, 1795. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 
Interior. 4 Exterior Scenes. Beauseant 
has been refused by Pauline Deschap- 
pelles, and to be revenged on her he 
induces Claude Melnotte, a peasant’s 
Bon, to make love to her. He dresses 
him in fine clothes, supplies him liber¬ 
ally with money, and introduces him 
as the Prince of Como Pauline falls 
into the trap and marries Claude, and 
he takes her to his cottage home. She 
leaves him. and he goes to the wars 
and becomes a famous sreneral and on 
his return Pauline and he are recon* 
ciled. 


128 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS. 


Lady Windermere’s Fan. 4 Acts. 
By Oscar Wilde. Is. 6d. 7 Males; 8 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 8 Interior Scenes. Lady 
Windermere discovers, from her hus¬ 
band’s cheque book, he has paid con¬ 
siderable sums to a certain Mrs. Er- 
lynne. She concludes from this fact 
and certain rumours that Lord Win¬ 
dermere is enamoured of the lady, and 
in a fit of passion leaves him, in com¬ 
pany with Lord Darlington. Mrs. 
Erlynne is really her lost mother, and 
coming to Lord. Darlington’s rooms 
induces Lady Windermere to return 
home before her husband discovers 
she has left him. Mrs. Erlynne is 
then discovered in Lord Darlington’s 
rooms, but manages to explain the 
situation in a satisfactory manner. 


Mary Queen of Scots. 2 Acts. By 
William Murray. 7 Males: 7 Females. 
Costume, Elizabethan. Time, 1 hour 
35 min. 3 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. 
Describes the successful escape of 
Mary Queen of Scots from the castle 
of Loch Leven. 


Pegfgry Green. (Comic.) 1 Act. By C. 
Selby. 3 Males; 10 Females. Cos¬ 
tume, 1790. Time, 1 hour. 1 Exterior 
Scene. Peggy G-reen returns from 
London, and visits her aunt in the 
country. Her lover, Edward Roverly, 
appears, and she being told he has 
married someone else, in order to 
serve him out, pretends not to know 
him, and states her name is Betsy 
Hoggins. She is, however, discovered, 
and rejoices to learn her lover is still 
free. 

Perfect Lover. 4 Acts. By Alfred 
Sutro. Library Edition, 2s. 6d. (Act¬ 
ing Edition will follow at Is. 6d.) 7 

Males; 7 Females. Time, 2 hours, 
30 min. 3 Interior Scenes. This play 
is not at present available for ama¬ 
teurs, except in London, but will be in 
the course of a few months.- Lord 
Cardew cherishes an unalterable pas¬ 
sion for William Tremblett’s wife, 
Lilian. Previous to her marriage they 
had been lovers; but necessity urged 
her to marry Tremblett. William is a 
company promoter, with one idea— 
wealth. He uses his wife brutally; 
she is but a method to him of increas¬ 
ing his wealth. To him comes the 
knowledge of coal existing on Cardew’s 
land, and he urges Lilian to go to 
Cardew and ask him to sell the estate. 
She refuses, and, in despair, William 
comes to Joe, his brother and very 
opposite, a man of strict honour, but 
poor. In return for a sum of money, 
Joe is to implore Lilian’s consent to 
do as her husband desire*. Joe refuses 


to become a party to the shabby pro¬ 
posal, but Cardew, on his own initia¬ 
tive, makes over the land to Joe, to 
treat with at his will, himself depart¬ 
ing for Canada with Lilian and a 
chaperone. 

Prisoner of Zenda. See MS. plays 

Proof. Prologue and 3 Acts. Adapted 
by F. C. Burnand. 10 Males: 9 Fe¬ 
males. Powder Period:. _ Time, 3 
hours. 3 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes. 
An intensely strong and dramatic 
play. The wife of a soldier, Pierre 
Lorance, is foully murdered by Lazare, 
Pierre being convicted of the murder 
on the evidence of his own child. 
Lazare, by stealing certain jewels, is 
able to assume the character of the 
Count de Laval, whom he knows to be 
dead. He is afterwards unmasked, 
and Pierre’s innocence established. 

Red Lamp. See MS. plays. 

Richelieu. 5 Acts. By Lord Lytton. 
16 Males; 2 Females. Costume, 1641. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 7 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes. There is a duel for 
supremacy between Richelieu and 
Baradas, the enemy and rival of Dt 
Mauprat, who is in love with the Car¬ 
dinal’s ward, Julie. Richelieu protects 
the lovers, but finding his power on 
the wane, feigns sickness and ap¬ 
proaching dissolution. When his 
enemies believe their hour of triumph 
has arrived, the Cardinal throws off 
the mask of sickness and decrepitude, 
denounces their machinations, and 
successfully resumes his sway over the 
King and France. 

Ruy Bias. 4 Acts. From the French 
of Victor Hugo. 12 Males; 4 Females. 
Costume, Period 1692. Time, 2 hours. 
3 _ Interior Scenes. Don Saliuste, 
Minister of Spain, being banished by 
the Queen, for revenge passes off a 
lackey, Ruy Bias, as his cousin, Don 
C®sar de Bazan. Ruv rises to the 
position of minister in the place of 
Saliuste and defies him, but Buy, 
being enamoured of the Queen. Sal¬ 
iuste entraps him at midnight in her 
private apartments and threatens to 
expose them both. Ruy kills Sal¬ 
iuste and then takes poison, and the 
Queen avows her love over his pros¬ 
trate body. 

Saints and Sinners. 6 Acts. Bv 
Henry Arthur Jones. 3s. 6<L 12 

Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 3 hours. 6 Interior. 2 Exterior 
Scenes. Letty Fletcher, the daughter 
of. .Jacob _ Fletcher, a dissenting 
minister, is carried off bv Captain 
ranshaw, and she is eventually res¬ 
cued by her father, but the truth being 
discovered, he is called upon by his 
deacons to resign his ministry; this 
he does He goes through great pri¬ 
vations, but m the end his con^re^a-- 
tion invite him back to his old chapel. 


THIRTEEN CHARACTERS AND UPWARDS 


129 


Secret Service. 2 Acts. By J. B. 
Blanche. 12 Males; 1 Female. Cos¬ 
tume, 1810. Time. 1 hour 30 min. 
2 Interior Scenes. Michael Perrin is 
turned out of his curacy, and in his 
poverty appeals to Fouche, his old 
pupil for assistance. By a misunder¬ 
standing he is appointed a member ol 
the Secret Service, and unknown to 
himself is innocently the means of 
preventing the assassination of the 
first consul. 

Silver King-. 5 Acts. By Henry Arthur 

Jones and Henry Hermann. Is. 6d. 27 
Males; 8 Females (several parts can be 
doubled). Modem Costume. Time. 3 
hours. 7 Interior, 8 Exterior Scenes (a 
great number of these are merely front 
cloths). This is the most successful 
drama ever staged. Wilfred Denver 
has lost all his money horse-racing. 
In a drunken brawl he becomes known 
to the “ Spider," Captain Skinner, to¬ 
gether with Eliah Coombs and Cripps, 
scoundrels planning the robbery of 
Hatton Garden jewellery belonging to a 
Geoffrey Ware. Denver and Ware are 
at enmity. During the burglary Den¬ 
ver arrives to settle his differences, is 
drugged by the gang, and, waking, 
finds himself alone with the dead body 
of Ware. He can remember nothing 
accurately, and imagines himself the 
murderer. Denver bids .his wife and 
children good-bye, and flies for his 
life. He jumps from the carriage of 
the train carrying him, and next morn¬ 
ing learns of its ultimate collision and 
total destruction by fire. The world 
believes Wilfred Denver a dead man. 
He goes to the silver mines in Nevada, 
and returns in four years—“ The Silver 
King.” But he cannot yet announce 
himself, on account of the suspicion. 
Clue by clue he follows up the three 
who have so wronged him, and finally 
proves the “ Spider ” guilty of murder. 


Walls of Jericho. 4 Acts. By Alfred 
Sutro. Library Edition, 2s. 6d. (Act¬ 
ing Edition will follow at Is. 6d.) 12 

Males; 8 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 45 min. 4 Interior 
Scenes. This play is not at present 
available for amateurs, but will be in 
the course of a few months. Having 
made a fortune sheep-farming in Aus¬ 
tralia, together with a distinguished 
career, Jack Frobisher comes home to 
■pend his money. He meets and falls 
in love with Alethea, the daughter of 
the poor and dissipated Marquis of 
Steventon. She goes her way, which 
leads through unlimited bridge an^ 
flirtation—Jack to her is nothing but 
% banker. Lord Drayton, the Marquis’s 
son, wrongs a girl; he comes to Fro¬ 
bisher for help. The Queenslander 
given him £3,000 and an Australian 


farm, providing he marries the girl. 
This action begets a crisis, and Fro¬ 
bisher asserts himself in all directions. 
He bids his wife say adieu to her set 
and go back to Queensland with him. 
She refuses, but at the eleventh hour 
relents, and consents to accompanying 
him. 

Weaker Sex. 3 Acts. By A. W. Pinero. 
Is. 6d. 9 Males; 10 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 23 hours 2 Interior 
Scenes. Lady Vivash quarreled in 
her young days with her lover, Philip 
Lyster, and married an old man, Lord 
Vivash. in a fit of pique. She is now 
a -widow with a daughter, Sylvia, who 
is about 18, but she has not forgotten 
her old love. Sylvia returns from 
abroad, where she has met Philip 
Lyster, and falls in love with him. 
After an interview between mother and 
daughter, Lyster finally says good-by* 
to both. 

White Cockade. 4 Acts. By Watta 
Phillips. 14 Males; 4 Females. Cos¬ 
tume 1745. Time, 2 hours 45 min. t 
Interior, 5 Exterior Scenes. Isabel, 
ine daughter of Sir William Ashford, 
is secretly married to Cyril, the son 
of Sir Andrew Silvester. Sir William 
is deeply implicated in the Jacobite 
rebellion, Sir Andrew obtains posses¬ 
sion of a packet of treasonable paper 
and a “White Cockade.” the Jacobite 
badge, implicating Sir William. Isabel 
pleads with Sir Andrew to spare her 
father, which he consents to do; 
meanwhile the incriminating docu¬ 
ments have been stolen by a spy, and 
Sir William is on the point of being 
arrested when the spy is slain by a 
young Jacobite highlander, who re¬ 
stores the documents just in time to 
save Sir William. 

Woodbarrow Farm. 3 Acts. By 
Jerome K. Jerome. Is. 6d. 11 Males; 

4 Females,. Modern Costume. 2 
hours 10 min. 3 Interior Scenes. In 
Woodbarrow Farm, Devon, dwell Mrs. 
Rollitt, her son Allen and niece 
Deborah. The former is desirous of 
seeing her son and niece united. De- 
bfprah is willing, but Allen is in love 
with Clara, Colonel Dexter’s daughter, 
but he considers Clara too superior t# 
him to ask her hand. His cousin, 
Richard Hanningford, is coming home 
to inherit a fortune. A gentleman 
calling himself Luke Cranbourne ar¬ 
rives with an individual he addresses 
as “ Dick Hanningford,” claimant to 
the fortune. Mrs. Rollitt calls “Dick,” 
and the newcomer falls back dead. 
Allen now inherits the fortune, and 
develops into a West End swell. Then 
the real Richard Hanningford arrives, 
claims his inheritance, and poor Allen 
is forced to retire into the seclusion of 
Woodbarrow Farm once more. De¬ 
borah is still “ willin’,” and a happy 
issue is anticipated, Clara already 
proving to be married. 


130 


PLATS IN MANUSCBIPT. 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT. 

The following Manuscript Plays are kept in stock by Samuel 
French, Ltd., 26 Southampton St., Strand, London. Many of the 
plays in manuscript can be rented to amateurs in the United 
States, and we will be pleased to answer inquiries regarding same. 


FARCES AND FARCICAL COMEDIES. 


Aunt Jack. In 3 Acts. By Ralph 
Lumley. Fee, 5 guineas. 9 Males; 

3 Females. Modern C-ostume. Time, 
2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes. “ Aunt 
Jack” is a Miss Joan Barrow, bring¬ 
ing a breach of promise action 
against a colonel, who has jilted her. 
There is a nephew, dependent upon 
Aunt Jack and the infrequent briefs 
he obtains as a barrister. Now the 
nephew has secretly married the 
colonel’s niece, and is naturally 
briefed against his father-in-law in 
support of Aunt Jack. To add to 
the situation, the counsel for the 
colonel is desperately in love with 
Aunt Jack herself. Thus, when the 
case comes to court, the opposing 
counsel are each, through domestic 
necessity, endeavouring to thwart 
their own cause. 

Bookmaker. In 3 Acts. By J. W. 

Pigott. Fee. 3 guineas. 8 Males; 

4 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Interior Scene through¬ 
out. The bookmaker. Sir Joseph 
Trent, in former years a jockey, in¬ 
herits £100,000, with the prospect of 
more to follow if he will marry a lady 
stipulated in the will. This is im¬ 
possible, as Sir Joseph, while abroad, 
has married an adventuress, discover¬ 
ing her character only after the cere¬ 
mony Although she is in his power 
he sacrifices the remaining £150,000, 
and with the wealth he already 
possesses, and his knowledge of horse¬ 
flesh, he is enabled to make several 
people, both financially and sentimen¬ 
tally, nappy. 

Churchwarden. In 3 Acts. By Ed¬ 
ward Terry. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 Lours. 2 Interior Scenes. 
The “ churchwarden,” Daniel Chuffy, 
is considered by his fellow-parishioners 
t(> be the emblem of morality and 
dignity. He aspires to the magis¬ 
tracy, in which he has the good 
wishes of his friend, Bearder, M.P. 
Daniel goes to London, and has his 
sympathies enlisted by a bolple## 


young lady, to whom he offers oysters 
and champagne, at a restaurant in 
which, unfortunately, Bearder, M.P., 
happens to dine. The 'latter is intro¬ 
duced to the lady as Daniel’s wife. 
When the churchwarden gets home, 
Bearder writes to say he is com.ng to 
visit him, and the methods employed 
by which ^ his character is cleared 
ause much fun. 

Crutch and Toothpick. In 3 Acts. 
By G-. li. buns. Fee, 3 guineas. 7 
maies; 3 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. Alderman Jones, wealthy and 
vulgar, has two daughters—Dolly and 
Amy. Dolly is married to Guy 
Devereux; the Alderman and second 
daughter are paying them a visit. 
Dolly has brought a dowry of £5,000 
and Guy. considering the income 
therefrom ample, lives at his leisure. 
The businesslike Alderman is furious, 
and forbid’s Amy’s marriage to any¬ 
one not in business. He draws his 
son-in-law’s attention to the fact that 
the £5.000 is settled on Dolly, and, 
installing himself as casnier, informs 
Guy he will have an allowance, but 
that he will have to work. The iatter 
accepts the position, turns himself 
into a “bagman,” and makes the 
house a co-operative store. Under 
these circumstances the Alderman 
gives way. 

D *‘* In 3 Acts. By Hamilton 

Aide Fee 5 guineas. 6 Males; 6 
remales. Modern Costume, lime, 2 
hours 15 min. 2 Interior Scenes 
After his marriage, Dr. William 
Brown, much to the disgust of his 
father-in-law, Mr. Firman, decides to 
give up his practice. Firman con¬ 
ceives the idea of putting a plate on 
the xront door and circularising the 
neighbourhood, thus compelling Brown 
to follow his profession. Before the 
marriage Brown had been known to 
ladies of the theatrical profession. An 
o!d # name Mrs Horton, of the 
r rivohty, sends for him to attend 
her professionally. He declines, but 
George Webster, who i# charged with 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


131 


the message, calls on her as the doctor. 
Most ridiculous complications ensue, 
Dr. Brown deciding, after all, to see 
the lady. The husband of the latter, 
being a jealous man, accuses everyone 
of supplanting him in his wife’s 
affections. 


Foundling. In 3 Acts. By W. Lestocq 
and E. M. Hobson. Fee, 3 guineas. 
5 Males; 5 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene throughout. A cer- 
tain note, written by a lady on the 
music-hall stage to Major Cotton, 
excites Mrs. Cotton’s grave susp’cious. 
Tlieir daughter, Sophie, is engaged to 
a young man who is supposed ' be 
the offspring of an aristocratic pair 
named Pennell. Dick arrives at the 
Cottons with the melancholy news cl 
the uncertainty of his parentage. Mra 
Cotton refuses to have anything nmre 
to do with him, but the Major 
promises his support. Dick, in re¬ 
turn, promises to screen him from 
his wife’s suspicions. Dick is 
enabled to discover the identity of his 
father and mother, and does the Major 
a good turn. Mrs. Cotton relents, 
and the pair are united. 

Four Little Girl9. In 3 Acts. By 
W. S. Craven. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 
Males; 7 Females. Modern Costume. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene. Tom 
Tyndall and Dick Baddlestone 
secretly marry against their respective 
fathers’ wishes. When the old people 
come to visit their sons the conceal¬ 
ment is maintained by each intro¬ 
ducing his wife as the spouse or a 
third party. This leads to further 
complications. .The third party is 
frightened, and flies to London on a 
charge of bigamy. All is at length 
unravelled, and forgiveness follows. 

Godoaoa. In 3 Acts. By F. C. 
Philips and Chas. Brookfield. Fee, 
3 guineas. 5 Males; 9 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 2 Interior Scenes. Reginald 
Forster meets a young milliner, 
named Mary Brown, and becomes on 
fairly intimate terms with her. He 
in his heart, however, wishes to 
marry Miss Violet Bunoury. It 
turns out that a Mr. Craven is the 
husband of Bunbury’s (Violet s father) 
sister, and is also the father of Mary, 
she being the daughter by his first 
wife, who was divorced from him. It 
can be imagined the fun that is forth¬ 
coming out of this appalling complica¬ 


tion. 

Grey Mare. In 8 Acts. By G. R. 

Sims. Fee, 3 guineas. 8 Males: 4 
Females. Modern Costume. - 
2 hours. 1 Interior Scene through¬ 
out John Maxwell, M.D , has the 
reputation of never having told a lie 
in his life, and his sster-ir»-l aw 
not he 

cleverness to conceive snd carry out 
an unnuth. To disprove mu ne 

19 


gives out he has been for a ride on 
horseback. It happens his cousin 
has been doing terrible tilings with 
a certain grey mare, riding down a 
neighbouring farmer’s corn and 
finally eloping with the daughter of a 
French count. John is accepted as 
the offender, and has to bear the brunt 
of his cousin’s misdeeds, nobody 
believing he told a lie. 

His Little Dodge. In 3 Acts. By 
Justin Huntley McCarthy. Fee, 
5 guineas. 4 Males; 2 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 

1 Interior Scene throughout. Lady 
Miranda, wife of Sir Hercules 
Little, is extremely jealous of her 
husband, mainly on account of the 
misp.aced confidence with which she 
had endowed her first husband. Her 
jealousy is justified, and in order to 
obtain an “ evening off,” her husband 
hypnotises her. He returns, and Lady 
Miranda, no longer in a irance, over¬ 
hears a conversation which exposes 
him. She retaliates by pretending 
that while under the hypnotic in¬ 
fluence. a man had entered the room, 
which makes him exceedingly jealous. 

Housebreaker. In 3 Acts. By Stan¬ 
ley Rogers. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 
Males; 2 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 15 mm 

2 Interior. 1 Exterior Scene. The 
scene opens at a country barber’s 
shop, where a variety of customers 
appear—a Frenchman, an Irishman, a 
detective and an amorous coal agent. 
They are all in a state of excitemeni 
over a statement that a burglary has 
been committed at a aeignoouritjg 
house, and a reward of t“100 offeree 
for tr.e capture of the thief. By a 
chain of circumstances each is led to 
suppose the other guilty, and the fun 
of the play is ma ; ntained by the 
processes they use in getting each 
other arrested. 

Husband and Wife. In 3 Acts. B> 

F. C. Philips and Percy Fends It. Fee, 

3 guineas. 9 Males: 6 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time. 2 hours 15 
min. 3 Interior Scenes. Mrs. 
Greenthorne is the president of a 
society for the subjugation of hus¬ 
bands. Poor Greenthorne leads a 
melancholy life, devoting his life 
chiefly to minding the baby and 
needlework. While visiting a water¬ 
ing-place he meets and flirts with a 
widow, Mrs. Springfield. This lady 
soon finds out the existence he is 
leading, and, pitying him, suggests 
the formation of a rival society— 
the “resistance of the monstrous 
tyranny of ladies.” These worthies 
establish their headquarters in the 
next room to the former society, much 
to their annoyance. Being mistaken 
for a gambling club, the whole party 
are arrested, and Act 3 shows the 
scene in court on the following 
morning. 


133 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


In the Soup. 3 Acts. By Ralph 
Lumley. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 Males; 
4 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 2 Interior Seenes. Horace 
Gilliebrand has married secretly. As 
he would forfeit his income, were this 
fact discovered, to one Ruppershaw. 
the arrival of that person agitates 
the Gilliebrands uncomfortably. 
They agree to dispense with their 
flat, and, through a blunder, let it 
twice, Mrs. Gilliebrand ignorantly 
arranging for Ruppershaw to occupy 
the premises. The Gilliebrands, in 
order to keep things going, are 
compelled to impersonate butler and 
housekeeper. When exposure seems 
imminent, Mrs. Gilliebrand mixes a 
narcotic draught with the soup, the 
result being that the ladies are dis¬ 
covered asleep in compromising situa¬ 
tions. The usual explanatons follow, 
and the Gilliebrands retain the in¬ 
come which had been in jeopardy. 
Interrupted Honeymoon. In 3 
Acts. By Kin=ev Peile. Fee. 6 
guineas. 6 Males; 6 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Interior Scenes. Mrs. Gordon a 
feather-headed wife, is flirting with a 
silly lover, Kenneth Benyon, married 
to repellant, middle-age, with aristo¬ 
cratic connections. The two entrain 
to attend a political meeting, but a 
breakdown occurs, and they And them¬ 
selves at Miss Percival’s. Th>'s lady 
is expecting a young couple on their 
honeymoon, and naturally mistakes 
Mrs. Gordon and Kenneth for the 
pair. 

Judge. In 3 Acts. By Arthur Law. 

Fee. 3 guineas. 6 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 

1 Interior Scene throughout. Sir 
John Pye arrives _ at the town of 
Woolchester to sit in judgment on all 
malefactors and ill-doers of the 
county. Prominent among these is 
Mrs. Shuttleworth, arrested on a 
charge of bigamy. She escapes from 
captivity, and, interrupting the 
privacy of the judge’s lodgings, pleads 
for shelter from her pursuers. When 
a barrister. Sir John Pye courted the 
burly bigamist. Softened by the 
fact he gives his consent to her sleep¬ 
ing on his sofa,, and retires for the 
night. His family return home from 
a ball, and Mrs. Shuttleworth an¬ 
nounces herself as Sir John’s spouse. 
The judge, through circumstances, is 
forced to keep up the deception, but 
matters are righted bv the discovery 
that Mrs. Shuttleworth is really not 
a bigamist at all. 

Lady Paddington. In 3 Acts. By 
F. C. Philips. Fee, 3 guineas. 8 
Males; 5 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes. 
This play is from the same German 
origin as “My Artful Valet," de¬ 
scribed below. 


L, ttle Intruder. In 3 Acts By J. 

H. Darnley and H. Bruce. Fee 8 
guineas. 6 Males; 4 Females Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior 
bcene throughout. Adam Pembleton 
professor of chemistry, has had left on 
his hands, mysteriously, a baby It 
is really the child of his son, Gerald 
secretly married to Amy M'Tavish’ 
Adam conceals the child in his labora¬ 
tory but his shadow on the blind 
while nursmg the infant, betrays his 
- secret. I he suspicions of his mother- 
in-law in particular are aroused by her 
discovery of a feeding bottle. There 
are the usual misunderstandings con¬ 
cerning the parentage of the “ encum¬ 
brance, but the truth comes out, and 
a general reconciliation of all the 
parties takes place. 

Loose Tiles. In 3 Acts. By J. P. 

Ff ™ I guineas. 7 Males; 4 
hemales. Modern Costume. Time 2 
hours 15 mm. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout. Mrs Crumbley keeps a 
bou , se ’ and has considerable 
i n ee P_ m S secret the know- 
that the house had been but 
recently occupied as an asylum. She 

are n ™Pfl t0 P*;. Ma ckelt, but matter! 
are not flourishing, and he goes to 
London to try and satisfy his credi- 
f Charlie Heathcote and hi, 
friend Bob Twitters, arrive from 
and the former, not knowing 
his father, the previous owner of the 
house, has vacated, takes all the in 
M tH ^ boa jding h ou-e for luna- 
Pff; Crumbley mistakes the in- 

truders for sheriff’s officers. 


Lucky Dog. i B 


f a Fem J 1 Unr ' m C ?i 3 guin< cas. 8 kfaleT* 
4 Females. Modern Costume Time 

Harn^rf'w 1 - Inte J io . r Scene throughout 
fjarold Wmyard is on the threshold 
of the bankruptcy court when the news 
godfather’s death arrives Thi! 
gentleman bequeathes him £2 000 a 

tion °° « 0n vf n'j he shaI] 8 hower devo- 
° n a bulldog named Peter. The 

sentedTo 1 ^ F arold ’? absence, is pre¬ 
sented to a tramp by a friend 

Bi°e e8 a?fm a k i n0 pr the im 19t / 0ry attac hed <o 

lu!k denari b f ° rtUne and hi « 

lucK depart at the same time and hia 

prospects are as gloomy as before 

^**5“ tke * dogr is discovered in the 
oompany of a showman. 

M G n R >e 9 r im 0r l ,oe “ n V In 3 Acts. By 
K i S • 3 g uiiie as. 3 Males- 

5 Females. Modern Costume. Time’ 

«lU° U n S 3 Interior Scenes. Nomini 
ber S - buf S f'“ US ,-F p Vf “> the "2£S. 

•J«r.T nt - j meets a lady acci- 

hi» b 'h 8 ^s. h ;Shi 8 r e i 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT 


133 


the late hour at which he returns 
home, he gives out the ‘ House ” have 
been debating late that evening. He 
soon finds out the fair unknown xo be 
the wife of a friend stooping in his 
house, and that she is endeavouring to 
arouse her husband’s jealousy. She 
comes to Epps’ house, meets lior hus¬ 
band, and causes the two men much 
trouble in keeping her identity seciet 
from the mother-in-law. 

Mint of Money. In 3 Acts. By 

' Arthur Law. Fee, 3 guineas. 8 
Males; 10 Females. Modern Costume. 

* 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes. In 

Southampton lives Mrs. Flutterby, 
mother of six marriageable daughters, 
named after the days of the week. In 
a neighbouring village lives Kerosine 
Tredgold, an innocent but rich gent'e- 
man. whom Mrs. Flutterby singles out 
for “ Thursday.” Kerosine has sown 
his love elsewhere, viz., Mary Maybud, 
a poor relation of the family. Medusa, 
a mesmerist, also has her eye on Aero- 
sine, and at the end of the first act 
Mrs. Flutterby and the “week” dis¬ 
cover him pouring out his heart to 
her. Medusa has a brother, Cornelius, 
who quarters himself on his prospec¬ 
tive brother-in-law, until one day ha 
is left drunk in the cellar, and five 
tons of coal are reputed to have been 
shot on him. Kerosine, thinking him¬ 
self responsib’e. flies from justice—into 
the arms of Mary Maybud. 

Money-Makers. In 3 Acts. By 
George Rollit. Fee, 3 guineas. 16 
Males: 9 Females. There being 

several minor parts, this play may 
be acted by 14 characters. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 
Interior Scenes. Falling in with the 
suggestion of their parlour-maid, 
Dot and Mabel, two damsels, in love 
with two impoverished young men, 
start business as tipsters. An allur¬ 
ing advertisement is inserted in a 
racing journal that on receipt of 5s. 
special information will be wired for 
a certain race. 5,000 applications and 
postal orders arrive, and the girls 
reply that “ Mustard ” is a certainty 
for a certain race. Th : s horse is then 
stated to have been scratched, and 
the numerous clients arrive for ex¬ 
planation. The party is marched off 
to Vine Street, and but for a printer’s 
error in printing “ Mus'ard ” instead 
of “ Bustard,” unpleasant conse¬ 
quences might have followed. 

Mother-in-Law. In 3 Acts. By G. R. 
Sims. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 Males; 5 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 3 Interior Scenes. Talfourd 
Twigg writes a play he calls “ Mother- 
in-law,” based upon the callous ideas 
of a certain Mrs. McTurtle on the 
rights and wrongs of women. Twigg 
becomes engaged to the lady’s daugh¬ 
ter, and the play is accepted by a 


London manager. He unsuccessfut'v 
endeavours to conceal the identity of 
authorship, the unmistakable parallel 
of the real and stage mother-in-law 
warranting this act of modesty. Mrs 
McTurtle comes to the first night, and 
the way Twigg and his fiancee occuny 
her attentions from the stage is very 
diverting. 

Mrs. Dexter. In 3 Acts. By J. H. 

Darnley. Fee, 3 guineas. 8 Males; 5 
Females. Time, 2 hours. Modern 
Costume. 3 Interior Scenes. A cer¬ 
tain Irish member of Parliament, 
Major Kildare, has got into trouble 
with a certain Mrs. Dexter through a 
harmless flirtation. Mr. Reginald 
Dexter becomes suspicious, and com¬ 
mences divorce proceedings against h’s 
wife, who determines to conduct lu.r 
own defence. The counsel he engages 
happens to have also had flirting epi¬ 
sodes with Mrs. Dexter, thus not wish¬ 
ing the case to be proceeded with. rJe 
carries out his desire, with the Major’s 
help, and sees husband and wife 
happily reconciled. 

My Artful Valet. In 3 Acts. By 
James Mortimer. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 
Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume, 
with uniform. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 
3 Interior Scenes. Leopold Fitz- 
Jocelyn is on the eve of marrying Miss 
Jessie Chadwick, rich and pretty. 
Gloriana, widow, an old sweetheart, 
comes to his house, and Leopold 
changes places and clothes with his 
valet, Spinks, hoping the degradation 
of finding she had made love to a ser¬ 
vant would prove too much for her. 
Nothing of the kind happens, and she 
admires him in his livery all the more. 
Spinks, in the meanwhile, gets himself 
into great difficulties as the master, 
and costs an appalling amount. The 
rest of the play deals with the amus¬ 
ing ruses Leopold adopts to escape 
from Gloriana. 

My Innocent Boy. In 3 Acts. By 
G. R. Sims and Leonard Merrick. Fee, 
3 guineas. 8 Males; 14 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Interior Scenes. It is the wedding 
day of Valentine Smith and Hypatia 
Jutsam. Valentine is a widower, and 
father of a daughter, but ‘his infor¬ 
mation is not vouchsafed to his wife 
or father. The daughter, Duleie, is 
being educated at Sloppertbn, and 
Valentine forces her to engage herself 
to an inane curate. Mr. Jellicoe has 
fallen in love with her, and procures 
an engagement at the school as danc¬ 
ing master. Numerous complications 
ensue, but the truth will out, and 
Dulcie’s parentage being discovered, 
she marries Jellicoe. 

Now Clown. In 3 Acts. Bv H. M. 
Pauli. Fee, 3 guineas. 9 Males; 8 
Females. Modern and Circus Costum>. 
Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior Scenes. Ths 


134 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


aim and object of certain of his friends 
is to convert Lord Cyril Garston from 
his feeble and fastidious mode of life. 
To further this end, they manage to 
obtain and place him in an engage¬ 
ment as clown in a circus. Lord Cyril 
signs a receipt for £50 in the name of 
the clown whose place he has usurped, 
thereby committing forgery, which, of 
course, inveigles him into further com¬ 
plications. Matters are finally set 
right, not before he has made his ap¬ 
pearance in the circus ring. 

The Night of the Party. In 3 

Acts. By Weedon Grossmith. Fee, 5 
guineas. 15 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 
Interior Scenes. Mr. Frank Frayne 
retains the services of Mr. Crosbie as 
butler. The former, while he depre¬ 
cates the visits of the . lively Lady 
Hampshire to his flat, is not quite 
prudent enough to put a stop to them. 
He starts on a journey, and Crosby 
seizes the opportunity to invite his 
various fellow servants from neigh¬ 
bouring flats. Frayne returns sud¬ 
denly, having missed his train. The 
merrymakers are hid about the room, 
when there also arrives Lady Hamp¬ 
shire. She has had a tantrum with 
her husband, and begs Frayne to run 
away with her to the Continent. The 
hidden servants endeavour to levy 
blackmail on the strength of the news 
they have heard, but Crosbie is more 
than a match, and manages to extract 
both himself and master from all diffi¬ 
culties. 

Our Flat. In 3 Acts. By Mrs. Mus- 
grave. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 Males; 6 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior Scene throughout. 
Reginald Sylvester, dramatic author, 
and his wife are reduced to their last 
shilling. Tradesmen requesting pay¬ 
ment keep the bell of their flat in¬ 
cessantly ringing. Mrs. Sylvester sees 
her husband’s talent for producing 
gruesome tragedies is not of much 
pecuniary, use, and sets herself to write 
a play in which the story of their 
poverty is depicted. The piece turns 
out a great success, and the creditors 
are satisfied, not, however, before all 
the furniture is taken away, and a new 
suite, made out of old packing cases 
and kitchen utensils, utilised. 

Pantomime Rehearsal. In 1 Act. 
By Cecil Clay. Fee. 5 guineas. 5 
Males; 6 Females. Modern Costume. 
1 hour 20 min. 2 Exterior Scenes, the 
worse they are painted the better. 
Jack Deedes, barrister, has written a 
pantomime, obtains the loan of a 
theatre, and rehearses his company of 
aristocratic actors, including a heavy 
dragoom who takes his comic part 
seriously, and a comic lordling, who 
airily admits his ignorance of the 
words, but is emphatic in his defence 


of his conception of a part which hfi 
throws up every few minutes. 

Private Secretary. In 3 Acts. By 
Charles Hawtrey. Fee, 5 guineas. 9 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
2 hours 5 min. 2 Interior Scenes. Mr. 
Marsland, by letter, engages the Rev. 
Robert Spalding, the meekest of the 
meek, whose hair is parted down thf 
centre, whose trousers are four inches 
above his shoes, which are encased in 
goloshes, and who is very limp, and 
suffers from a chronic cold, as his 
secretary. For various reasons, Harry, 
Marsland’s nephew, wishes his friend. 
Douglas Cattermole, to pass himself 
off as the secretary. The rev. gentle¬ 
man arrives to fulfil his duties, and 
the young men have their work cut 
out to disabuse the minds of the elder 
people. 

Professor. In 3 Acts. By Gera’d 
Maxwell. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 Males; 4 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior scene throughout. 
This play is adapted from the same 
German origin as “ Night Off,” de¬ 
scribed among the comedies further 
on 

Sporting; Simpson. In 3 Acts. By 

L. Martindale. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 
Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes. A 
wealthy racing man, Augustus Simp¬ 
son, falls in love with Molly Ward, a 
thorough sportswoman. He decides to 
win her by deeds of prowess in the 
hunting field, which he easily achieves 
by clearing an enormous brook on a 
runaway mount. For domestic reasons, 
and to oblige her brother, Simpson 
pretends he is already married, and 
Molly is bitterly piqued. The usual ex¬ 
planations follow, and all are made 
happy. 

Sportsman. In 3 Acts. By W. Les- 
tocq. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 2 Interior Scenes. Before his 
marriage Harry Briscoe was an ar< 
dent gambler, and this passion break* 
out afterwards. He secretly, undei 
pretence of a day’s shooting, repairs to 
a gambling club. Dr. Holroyd, a re¬ 
jected suitor of Mrs. Briscoe, suspects 
the truth, and imparts his suspicions 
successfully to the lady. She decides 
to leave her husband, and comes to 
Holroyd’s lodgings. The gambling 
club happens to be on the lower floor 
of the building, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Briscoe are brought face to face with 
one another. Many lies are requisi¬ 
tioned ere peace is restored. 

There and Back. In 3 Acts. By 

George Arliss. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes. 
Waring and his friend Lewson are on 
the point of departing on a sea trip. 
They separately receive notes from a 
lady, named Smith, asking for a loan 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT. 


135 


of £10. They hide the request from 
one another and their wives, and oblige 
Miss Smith, who, it turns out, has 
engaged a berth on the same steamer. 
To escape, they, unknown to their 
wives, go to Scotland. The wives also 
go north with an uncle. Husbands 
meet wives, and after some "bungling” 
a reunion takes place. 

Uncles and Aunts. In 3 Acts. By 

W. Lestocq and W. Everard. Fee, 3 
guineas. 6 Males; 5 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes. Nelly and Mary Marley are 
in love with Fred Cureton and Regi¬ 
nald Rawlins respectively, the course 
of the latter pair being terribly ruffled 
on account of her father wishing her 
to marry an elderly idiot, named Zede- 
kiah Aspen, and Reginald’s uncle in¬ 
sisting on his union to a damsel called 
Sparrow. Numerous tricks and devices 
are employed by the young lovers, and 
after much wrangling the elders are 
brought to their senses. Mr. W. S. 
Penley made a great success with the 
part of Aspen. 

Upper Crust. In 3 Acts. By H. J. 

Byron. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours. 1 Interior Scene throughout. 
Genial, self-made, with one idea—to 
be a real swell, and to associate with 
ikm “ upper crust ” — is Barnaby 


Doublechick, soap boiler. But 
“ Doublechick’s Diaphonous Soap,” 
posted on every wall from the London 
suburbs to the Pyramids of Egypt, bars 
his passage. There is, however, a 
charming daughter, Norah, whom 
Doublechick tries his best to marry to 
Sir Rob. Boobleton. Then comes on 
the scene Walter Wrentmore, formerly 
in Doublechick’s employ, now archi¬ 
tect-admirer of Norah. The latter 
thinks Walter has turned his atter 
tions elsewhere, and consents to thv 
marriage with the baronet. Ths 
thought is a mere delusion, and 
Walter, being discovered to be the sor 
of aristocratic parents, satisfies both 
Norah and father. 

Walker London. In 3 Acts. By J. 

M. Barrie. Fee, 5 guineas. 5 Males; 
5 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Houseboat Scene. The 
houseboat, moored by the bank of the 
Thames, is occupied by a pleasant 
party until Mr. Jaspar Phipps arrives. 
This worthy is a barber, married to 
Sarah Riggs, whom he has left at the 
church door, intending to spend the 
money saved up for the honeymoon on 
his own account. He manages to ap¬ 
pear to have saved one of the ladies 
on the houseboat from drifting over 
the weir, and, posing as an African ex- 
tdorer, enjoys himself generally until 
hia wife arrives and carries him off. 


13d 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT 


COMEDIES. 


Ambassador, In 4 Acts. By John 
Oliver Hobbs. Fee, 5 guineas. 11 
Males; 16 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior and 
1 Exterior Scenes. In Paris, Lady 
.Beauvedere’s eldest son engages him¬ 
self to a penniless orphan, Juliet 
Gainsborough, though he is to all ac¬ 
count betrothed elsewhere. It is sug¬ 
gested Lord St. Orbyn, a fascinating 
middle-aged man, shall test the dis¬ 
interestedness of Juliet by making love 
to her. A few moments spent in her 
society alter the situation, and he 
himself falls in love with her. She 
breaks off her former engagement on 
account of the family’s attitude, and 
marries St. Orbyn. 

Bauble Shop. In 4 Acts. By H. A. 

Jones. Fee, 5 guineas. 11 Males; 4 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 3 Interior Scenes. Lord 
Clivebrook, a Parliamentary magnate, 
is attempting to carry a bill through 
the House dealing with private morals. 
He is middle-aged, rather devoted to 
women, but abhors marriage. Jessie 
Keber, the daughter of a drunken old 
mechanical toy inventor, comes into his 
life, and awakens a feeling of interest 
within him. Clivebrook furnishes a 
cottage for the old inventor, and his 
interest in Jessie turns to love, but, 
realising the position, he asks her 
never to see him again. Stoach, the 
labour member, and Clivebrook’s op¬ 
position, exposes the cottage and its 
occupants, thus causing Clivebrook to 
retire fr®m public life, but at the same 
time enabling him to marry Jessie. 

Bung-alow. In 3 Acts. By Fred. W. 
Horner. Fee, 3 guineas. 4 Males; 6 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes. Frederick Leighton-Buzzard, 
R.A., is about to be married to Milli- 
cent Bell, and therefore proceeds to 
get rid of his model, Zeffie Williams. 
To the studio comes the artist’s future 
father-in-law, Gregory Bell, who asks 
Frederick for the loan of one of his 
rooms to lecture his model—also Zeffie 
Williams. Two friends, Harry Vaug¬ 
han and Percy Gwynne, make similar 
requests for loan of rooms—the former 
to interview secretly the latter’s wife, 
and vice versa. All arrive together, 
and each is suspected of being a rival 
in his wife’s affections. 

Chevaleer. In 3 Acts. By Henry 
Arthur Jones. Fee, 5 guineas. 12 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 30 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. A quarrel between Sir John 
Kellond and his wife, Lady Anne, 
over the celebrations of the centenary 
of an ancestor is the cause of the ’ 
latter setting off to visit her friend 
Mr®. Meesom. Through missing a 


train at a junction she is forced to 
spend the night at an inn, under the 
same roof as her ardent admirer. 
Charlie Inskip. A showman, callirg 
himself the “ Chevaleer ” is sleeping 
under the table of the inn parlour. 
While Lady Anne and Inskip are dis¬ 
cussing the difficulty of the situation 
the “ Chevaleer ” awakes. In order 
to buy his silence Lady Anne promises 
to use her influence with her husband 
to place the centenary in his hands. 
This worthy has, however, heard no¬ 
thing, but manages to make the pair 
very uncomfortable till the commis¬ 
sion is secured. 


Chili Widow. In 3 Acts. By Arthur 

Bourchier and Alfred Sutro. Fee, 3 
guineas. 11 Males; 4 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 Interior 
Scenes. A self-respecting clerk in the 
Home Office, named Martindale, is de¬ 
sirous of obtaining an Irish commis- 
sionership which happens to be open. 
Gladys, his sister-in-law, determines to 
call on the head of the Department 
and plead his cause. She entirely fas¬ 
cinates the official, and obtains every¬ 
thing she wants from him. In Ireland 
the official resumes his acquaintance, 
and successfully proposes marriage to 
her. 


m? 1rade9, In 3 Acts. By Brandon 

Thomas and B. C. Stephenson. Fee, 
5 guineas. 9 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 1 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes. General 
Sir George Dexter, on his way home 
from the Crimean war, marries a 
young girl, who gives birth to a son 
and dies. The General marries again, 
and conceals his first marriage. He 
becomes the father of another boy, 
Arthur. Meanwhile, the first son, Cap¬ 
tain Darleigh, enters the army, and 
gams the V.C* Every one is anxious 
tor a marriage to take place between 
Arthur and the heiress. Lady Con¬ 
stance Bucklands, but she and Dar¬ 
leigh fall desperately in love. The 
latter has cause to doubt the legiti¬ 
macy of his own birth, and on that 
score refrains from proposing. The 
General taken ill, reveals everythin** 

Lady 9 Constance &nd Darleigh mar “es 

Cousin Kate. 3 Acts. By Hubert 

Henry Davies. Fee, 6 guineas. 3 
& ; A Fema t 8 ' Modern Costume, 
q.™®' 2 m? urs A 5 mm - Two Interior 

nf Mvt' c? he , actl °V° pens in the house 
of Mrs. Spender, whose daughter Amy 

is engaged to a rich young artist named 
Heath. Amy has come under the in¬ 
fluence of a priggish locum tenens, the 
Rev. James Bartlett, who has created 
“ n ?l nd doobts as to Heath’s fit¬ 
ness for the position of husband She 
quarrels with han on the eve of m£! 


PLAYS IN MANUSORIPT 


137 


ri»ge, and he falls in love with Kate, 
Amy’s cousin; not, however, knowing 
her real identity. The priggish locum 
tenens overrules Airy’s scruples, and 
she settles to sever her engagement and 
gravitate towards the clergyman. This 
leaves Heath free to offer himself to 
Cousin Kate. 

Daisy’s Escape. In 1 Act. By A. 

W. Pinero. Fee, 1 guinea. 5 Males; 

2 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene. A railway 
accident occurs near the Cross Keys 
Inn. Among the passengers are Daisy 
White and Augustus Caddel, in the 
act of eloping, and who come on to 
the Inn. Augustus is a sandy young 
man, with an objectionable manner 
and nasal drawl—in short, a cad. Tom 
Rassiter, Daisy’s former sweetheart, 
turns up. He is good-looking and 
smart. Augustus, overhearing a con¬ 
versation between Daisy and Tom. 
realises he is not the right husband 
for her. 

Fool and His Money. In 3 Acts. 

By H. J. Byron. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time 2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. On his deathbed an eccentric 
old individual is induced by Charles, 
his butler, to make a will in his fav¬ 
our. The next of kin, Percival Ran- 
son, comes home, finds himself 
penniless, and accepts Charles’ offer 
to act as his butler. The latter in his 
wealth is exceedingly unhappy. He 
endeavours to bury his past by renting 
an estate in the heart of Wales. But 
his origin is exposed, and matters be¬ 
come worse. The will is successfully 
contested by Percival’s friends, and 
Charles retires into the occupancy of 
a public-house. 

Freedom of Suzanne. 5 Acts. By 

Cosmo Gordon Lennox. Fee, five 
guineas. 9 Males; 6 Females. Modem 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 In¬ 
terior, 1 Exterior Scenes. A giddy- 
pated, but good-natured little fool is 
Suzanne, wife of a quiet, yet wise 
young man, Charles Trevor. Suzanne 
demands perfect freedom to flirt with 
whom she likes, go where she pleases, 
and, if it should suit her, rehearse im¬ 
passioned scenes in private with a 
Frenchman. Naturally. Charles re¬ 
gents this, and practically, by means 
of a trick, Suzanno obtains sufficient 
evidence of cruelty to secure a divorce. 
But soon she begins to tire of her 
single existence, and, exasperated be¬ 
yond measure at the supposed atten¬ 
tion her former husband is paying a 
Mrs. Tunstall, she returns to his will¬ 
ing arms. 

Half-Way House. In 3 Acts. By 
G. R. Sims. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 Males; 
5 Females. Time, 2 hours. Modern 
Costume. 1 Exterior. 1 Interior Scene. 
A West End florist, John Hope, and 


his daughter are staying at the “ Half* 
way House” in the country. The son 
of the Squire, Philip Hesseltine, has 
made love to Ivy Hope in London, 
under the name of Philip Howard. 
Ivy learns his real identity while read¬ 
ing the announcement of his approach¬ 
ing marriage. Philip explains the 
whole business has been arranged by 
his father, and he will marry none but 
Ivy, which he does, after rescuing his 
mother from a lunatic asylum, wnere 
she had been placed by the jealous 
machinations of her sister-in-law, and 
setting pecuniary matters right. 

Henrietta. In 4 Acts. By Bronson 
Howard. Fee, 6 guineas. 8 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 min. 3 Interior Scenes. 
Nicholas Vanalstyne, senr., prominent 
Wall Street gambler, is possessed of a 
warm heart and two sons, Nicholas, 
junr., and Bertie. The former is 
struggling to place himself at the head 
of the financial world, while the latter, 
though seemingly idle, has his father’s 
interests more at heart than Nicholas, 
junr. The latter seizes an opportunity 
to beat down the shares of the “ Hen¬ 
rietta ” mine during his father’s ab¬ 
sence. Matters are exposed, and old 
Nicholas, in his anger, nearly strangles 
his son. He is saved from ruin by 
Bertie, and Nicholas, junr., dies in his 
office of heart disease. 

His Highness My Husband. 3 Acts. 
Adapted from the French by William 
Boosey. Fee, 3 guineas. 10 Males; 7 
Females. Modern Costume, with uni¬ 
form, which has been specially pre¬ 
pared, and can be hired cheaply from 
C. H. Fox, Ltd., 27, Wellington Street, 
Strand, London. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 3 Interior Scenes. The King¬ 
dom of Corconia is governed by a coun¬ 
cil, under its young and handsome 
Queen Sonia. The council arrange 
preliminaries for a union between the 
Queen and Prince Cyril, son of an ex¬ 
monarch. Public betrothal takes 
place, and after six months Cyril is 
fretting under the humiliation of his 
new position; he is ever at his wife’s 
beck and call. Moreover, he is not 
allowed even suggestions in affairs. A 
climax is reached, and Cyril is put 
under arrest. He escapes, only to re¬ 
turn, however, to discuss the situation. 
Ultimately Cyril is placed in a position 
equal to Sonia. 

Ideal Husband. In 4 Acts. By 

Oscar Wilde. Fee, 5 guineas. 8 
Males; 6 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. Lady Chiltern, a well-known 
society woman, is married to a man 
considered to be beyond reproach. She 
discovers that he, in early life, had 
made use of his position in the Cabi¬ 
net for Stock Exchange speculation, 
This shatters her ideal, but by the 


138 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


strenuous argument of Lord Goring, 
bosom friend of Lord Chiltern, she is 
made to see how her husband’s after¬ 
life has been one long repentance. 
They are thus reconciled. 

Love in Idleness. In 3 Acts. By 
Louis N. Parker and E. J. Good¬ 
man. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 Males; 5 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. 
Laziness is the golden motto of 
Mortimer Pendlebury. His niece 
Maggie is sought in marriage by Jack 
Fenton, whose means are very limited. 
Pendlebury endeavours to improve the 
latter’s financial position, but his 
laziness frustrates all plans, and every¬ 
body is miserable. In the 2nd Act 
Pendlebury is all activity, and deter¬ 
mines to secure Jack a good berth, 
but things turn out more unsatisfac¬ 
tory than before, and everybody is still 
more miserable. Act 3 sets everything 
in order. 

Man from Blankley’s. 3 Acts. By 

F. Anstey. Fee, 6 guineas. 8 Males; 
10 Females. Modern Costume. Tin 3, 
2 hours 30 min. 2 Interior Scenes. Mr. 
and Mrs. Montague Tidmarsh, a mean 
and vulgar couple, with uretensions to 
gentility, give a dinner-party to their 
acquaintances, who form a regular 
menagerie, comprising an overbearing 
uncle and aunt, an inane idiot, an old 
maid (who talks of cockatoos), a female 
gusher, and several other quaint relics. 
In order to guard against the contin¬ 
gency of thirteen, Mr. Ticimarsh ar¬ 
ranges with the universal providing 
firm of Blankley’s to supply a hired 
guest. Lord Strathpeffer, a Scotch 
Peer, wanders in under the impression 
he has entered the establishment of a 
Mr. Cartouche, an Egyptologist,, living 
next door. Lord Strathpeffer is mis¬ 
taken for the hired person by the Tid- 

. marshes, and duly instructed .what to 
do. The misunderstanding is main¬ 
tained until after the dinner-party, 
much to the discomfort of the parties 
concerned. 

Marriagfe of Kitty. In 3 Acts. By 

Cosmo Gordon Lennox. Fee, five 
guineas. 4 Males;3 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 
Interior Scenes. Being left unprovided 
for. Miss Kitty Silverton goes to her 
guardian, John Travers, and lays her 
case before him. On the other hand 
Sir Reginald Belsize has been left a 
fortune on the condition that he shall 
marry forthwith—but not a. widow or 
a Peruvian, this clause being aimed 
at a Madame de Semiano with whom 
Belsize is deeply in love. Travers 
conceives the plan of Bels:_3 going 
through the form of ma"-iage with 
Kitty and at once separating. After 
an interval a divorce shall be obtained 
and Belsize left free to marry his 
Peruvian. This plan is only partially 
carried out, as Belsize gradually falls 


in love with his real wife and for¬ 
sakes the charms of Madame de 
Semiano. 

Master. In 3 Acts. By Stuart 
Ogilvie. Fee, 3 guineas. 10 Males; 

4 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Interior scene through¬ 
out. Thomas Faber is a powerful, 
self-made financier. Determined to 
be master in his own home he bullies 
his family. The crisis comes when, 
on a slight pretext, he turns his son, 
his daughter—for engaging herseif 
otherwise than to the man he had 
chosen for her—and finally his wife 
out of his house. Certain share 
transactions then almost ruin him, 
but his wife comes back and places 
her private fortune at his disposal; 
the daughter returns, and is forgive*, 
and finally his son. 

Merely Mary Ann. 4 Acts. By Israel 

Zangwill. Fee, 5 guineas. 8 Males; 
10 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 Imurs 30 min. 3 Interior Scenes. 
Living in the atmosphere of a cheap 
lodging-house, kept by a Mrs. Lead- 
batter, is Lancelot, a young, ambitious 
composer. The general servant of the 
establishment is a country girl, named 
Mary Ann, who falls devotedly in love 
with Lancelot. His agony is protracted 
by fallacious hopes of getting his works 
published, and when, after earning 
£30 to “ do a popular.” Lancelot de¬ 
cides to quit the Leadoatter establish¬ 
ment, the girl, utterly innocent of 
guile, implores him to take her with 
him. Lancelot refuses. Then Mary 
Ann comes into a large fortune: she is 
transformed to Marian, is educated, 
and takes her place in society. To her 
comes Lancelot, now a great composer, 
eventually to become her husband. 

Mother of Three. In 3 Acts. By 
Clo. Graves. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 
Males; 7 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior Scenes. 
Before the play commences Professor 
Murgatroyd goes to Peru to study 
astronomy. A month later his wife 
gives birth to three girls. Eighteen 
years elapse, and the Professor does 
not return. The girls have several 
suitors by now, but when inquiries 
are ventured about the absent 
paternal parent the young men’s 
respective passions are cooled. Mrs. 
Murgatroyd decides to assume the role 
of her own husband, but the Professor 
turns up, and most side-splitting 
consequences take place. 

My Pretty Maid. In 4 Acts. By 
Basil Hood. Fee, 3 guineas. 7 
Males; 3 Females. Modem Costume. 
Time. 2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene. In order to improve 
the quality of the instruction he 
supplies, Mr. Robert Fanshawe en¬ 
gages Mr. Bull as assistant master. 
The latter very soon conceives a& u*> 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT 


139 


terest for Fanshawe’s daughter, and, 
having been left a legacy, he promises 
to save Fanshawe from the bank¬ 
ruptcy which is threatening him, if 
Violet will not receive the attention 
of anyone for a year. She carries 
out her promise, though in love with 
Jack Barclay. His friend, the Earl 
of Beccles. manages to set Fanshawe 
straight before the fatal year elapses. 

Nancy & Co. In 4 Acts. By A. Daly. 
Fee, 3 guineas. 6 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 
Interior Scenes. Nancy Brasher is 
very fond of her husband, but does 
not share all her secrets with him. 
One she is particularly careful to keep 
from him—she has written a play and 
sent it to. a well-known dramatic 
author. O’Kieffe, who is engaged t© be 
married to a girl, Oriana. O’Kieffe 
decides to re-write the piece and an¬ 
nounce himself as Nancy’s collabo¬ 
rator. She, in her ardour to see the 
first performance, accompanies him. 
The husband and Oriana trace the 
pair to some hotel. Explanations 
are demanded, but until the success of 
the play is assured Nancy refuses any. 
The piece is rapturously received, -and 
reconciliations take place. 

New Woman. In 4 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Fee, 5 guineas. 6 Males; 

6 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 20 min. 1 Exterior. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes. The prince of prigs, 
Gerald Cazenove, just up from Ox¬ 
ford, believing not in his natural 
surroundings enters the set of the 
“ new woman.” He makes an 
especial friend of Mrs. Sylvester, and 
collaborates with her in literary work. 
This worthy has no sympathy with 
her husband. Gerald falls in love, 
and marries his aunt’s maid, ignorant 
but pretty. He soon tires of her, and 
returns to his friend, Mrs. Sylvester, 
and his books. Margery, the wife, 
reproaches the husband and his com¬ 
panions, and after an angry scene 
returns to her father. In the last 
act Gerald, having turned over a new 
leaf is reconciled to his wjfe through 
the instrumentality of the aunt. 

Nif»;ht Off. In 4 Acts. By A. Daly. 
Fee. 3 guineas. 6 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time 2 hours 30 
min. 2 Interior Scenes. In his 
college days Professor Babbitt has 
written a Roman tragedy. It is for¬ 
gotten for years, when an actor- 
manager offers to produce the piece, if 
only for the sake of getting the house 
full of the Professor’s friends. The 
latter keeps the information from his 
wife—a vinegary old lady—but she 
finds out the whole matter, and the 
poor man has a rough time. The 
play is a dreadful failure, and at the 
end of the second act a riot orjmrs. 
The actor-manager’s wife substitutes 
the remnants of another play, thus 
keeping the audience quiet. 


Old Love and the New. In 5 Act* 

By Bronson Howard. Fee, 3 
guineas. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 30 min. 1 Exterior, 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Lilian Westbrook is 
on the noint of engaging herself to 
Harold Kenyon. The firm Westbrook 
is connected with is on the verge of 
bankruptcy, the failure resting with 
John Stratton, a banker. The latter 
is in love with Lilian, and Mr. West¬ 
brook, realising the advantage of this 
marriage, forces her into an enga e- 
ment. Four years elapse. A child 
is born, and Kenyon, passing through 
Paris, calls at the Stratton’s hou e. 
He meets Lilian for the first time 
since her marriage. A quarrel ensues 
with a French Count. Kenyon i* 
challenged to a duel and killed. Be¬ 
fore he dies, Lilian, forgetting her¬ 
self for the moment, in the presence 
of her husband, pours out her heart 
to Kenyon. Stratton sees the whole 
story of her life at once and leaves 
for India, vowing never to return un¬ 
less she sends for him. 1 hey are 
brought together years after by the 
insti umentality of the child, Lilian, in 
the meantime, having learnt what a 
noble character her husband possesses. 

Partners. In 5 Acts. By Rot ert 
Buchanan. Fee. 3 guineas. 9 Males; 

6 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Heinrich Borvfp'dt 
marries a girl twenty years his iunior. 
His business partner, Churles 
Derwentwater, has been her sweet¬ 
heart since childhood, and he con¬ 
tinues 1 is attentions after her 
marr'age. Borgfeldt, returning from 
Germany, discovers his wife in his 
partner’s arms and the firm cn the 
brink of ruin. He exrels his wi f« 
from his home, and undertakes to put 
the business on a firm footing. He 
succeeds in the latter, and, his better 
nature conquering, forgives his 
penitent wife. 

Pilkerton’s Peerage. In 4 Acts. 

By Anthony Hope. Fee, 5 guineas. 

7 Males; 2 Females. Time, 2 hours 
15 min. 2 Interior Scenes. ‘A 
wealthy merchant, Joshua Pilkerton, 
decides his trade would be grea'ly 
increased if. by fair means or foul, 
he could induce the Government 
to bestow on him a peerage. The 
Prime Minister’s secretary is invited 
to his countrv house and falls in love 
with Ida Pilkerton, the daughter. 
Pilkerton, indirectly, refuses to 
sanction the marriage unless he is 
made a peer. The secretary finally 
convinces his chief this end is 
desirable. 

Queen’s Favourite. In 4 Acts. By 

Sydney Grundy. Fee, 5 guinea*. 
Time. 2 hours 15 min. Costum*, 
period Queen Anne. 2 Interior Scenes, 
Ensign Marsham and Abigail Hill, 


140 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT 


daughter of a jeweller, are lovers. 
Queen Anne is attracted by the girl's 
beauty, and offers her a position at 
Court, which proposition is vigorouaiy 
opposed by the Duchess of Marl¬ 
borough. The young couple, 

especially Abigail, are made the tools 
of Bolingbroke, who is endeavouring 
to overthrow the Duchess. First 
one side, then the other, obtains 
ascendancy, but, finally, Bolingbroke 
triumphs, and the lovers are united. 

Saturday to Monday. In 3 Acts. 
By Frederick Fenn and Richard 
Pryce. 4 Males; 7 Females. Modem 
Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 
Exterior, 1 Interior Scene. A captain 
in the navy, Lord Culvert, comes to 
the cottage in the Thames Valley of 
Mrs. Wendover, a charming. widow, 
whom he had deeply admired for 
years though long betrn+bed. for 
family reasons to Angela Porchester. 
The widow has, at random, invited all 
her friends to come and see her. Un¬ 
fortunately they all select this par¬ 
ticular week-end, and the house is 
very soon full—among them Angela. 
Piqued at Mrs. Wendover’s refusals 
to allow him to make love to her. 
Culvert vows to propose to all the 
ladies in the house._ His plan is 
carried out and he is accepted en 
masse. Angela finds she is enamoured 
of Culvert’s secretary, which smooths 
the way to an understanding between 
the widow and her admirer. 

Sea Flower. In 3 Acts. By Arthur 
Law. Fee, 3 guineas. 5 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes. Captain Sherwood is left in 
charge of a fort on the Indian 
frontier, with orders to defend it to 
the last. He falls ill, and his place 
is filled by Lieut. Trafford, who orders 
a retreat, pretending to have done so 
at the Captain’s command. The 
Captain is court-martialled—not know¬ 
ing whether he really did give the 
order in his delirium—found gui’ty, 
and duly cashiered. Fourteen years 
elapse, and Sherwood turns up at the 
home of Mrs. Trafford. The lieutenant 
is now dead. The former Cr.ptain 
had once loved the lady, and after an 
engagement ‘being announced between 
her step-son and his (Sherwood’s) 
daughter, the play ends with the 
possibility of a dual marriage. 

Shopwalker. In 3 Acts. By Robert 
Buchanan and Chas. Marlowe. Fee, 

3 guineas. 9 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 3 
Interior Scenes. The ideas and 
ambitions of Thomas Tompkins, shop¬ 
walker, soar high above his pos tion. 
He believes himself a thorough 
aristocratic gentleman, dwarfed sole'y 
by the accident of birth and circum¬ 
stances. A wealthy uncle dies in 
the West Indies, leaving him a large 
fortune. His ambitions are realised. 


Entering the society of the " upper 
ten,” he falls violently in love with 
Lady Evelyn, daughtei of the im¬ 
poverished Earl of D overcourt. 
Though having set her affections else¬ 
where, Lady Evelyn consents to 
marry Tompkins in order to save her 
family from ruin. She is disgusted 
by his vulgarity. Learning the 
reason of her engagement, and, his 
better nature asserting itself, he not 
only presents her with mortgages he 
had obtained on the estate, but also 
joins her hand to the man of her 
choice. 

Showman’s Daughter. In 3 Acta. 

By Mrs. Hodgson Burnett. Fee, 3 
guineas. 7 Males; 4 Females. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
Scenes. His daughter and his wax- 
works are the objects of Joe HursPs 
affections. Not wishing his daughter's 
future to be prejudiced by the fact 
of her father being a showman, he 
sends her, at an early age, to be edu¬ 
cated abroad. When she has finished 
this stage he prepares a magnificent 
house for her reception in England. 
Upon her return she mistakes him 
for*the butler. Abroad she has fallen 
in love with a nobleman’s son. He 
comes to the mansion to renew her 
acquaintance. Hurst gets to know of 
this, and, keeping his identity secret, 
returns to the waxwork show. The 
daughter finds out her mistake, and, 
finding him, resolves never to leave 
him. 

Sophia. In 4 Acts. By Robert 
Buchanan. Fee, 5 guineas. 11 Males; 
6 Females. 18th Century Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 4 
Interior Scenes. Sophia’s father in¬ 
tends to bestow the girl’s hand uron 
Blifil, a thorough cad, though the girl 
is in love with Tom Jones. Blifil re¬ 
ceives a sound thrashing from Tom, 
and prepares dire revenge. At Lady 
Bellaston’s. in London, Tom meets 
Sophia, Lady Bellaston, for cert a n 
reasons, being in the next room. The 
voice of the Squire, Sophia’s father, is 
heard on the stairs, and Sonhia is con¬ 
cealed in a cupboard. The old man 
suspecting his daughter is concea’ed 
somewhere, commences searching, and 
drags forth Lady Bellaston. Soph’a 
thinks she has discovered the unfaith¬ 
fulness of her lover, and, stepping out, 
.consents to marry Blifil. His villainies 
are exposed, and all ends happily. 

Superior Miss Pellender. 3 Acts. 
By S'dney Bowkett. Fee, 3 guineas. 
2 Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene. A gentle, amiable, widow- 
mother is Mrs. Pellender. Each mem¬ 
ber of her family is strongly charac¬ 
teristic. Edith, a malade imaginaire; 
Nancy, atom-boy; Noel, a mischievous 
youth; and the superior Miss Pellen¬ 
der, as crisp as a biscuit, sharp as ft 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


141 


knife, and the terror of the family. 
The mother falls in love with a diffi¬ 
dent gentleman, named Tister; but, to 
break the news to her unsparing child 
she feels the greatest reluctance. She 
and her fiance are quite unable to 
muster sufficient courage to “confess,” 
and, in ultimate desperation, they 
elope, leaving a note behind explain¬ 
ing. 

Sweet Nancy. In 3 Acts. By Bobt. 
Buchanan. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 Males; 
5 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene. 
The heroine, Nancy, grows up in an 
old country house, snubbed like her 
brothers and sisters, by a pragmatical 
parent. She is admired, wooed, and 
married to a middle-aged officer, Sir 
Boger Tempest. A widow, Mrs. 
Huntley, purposely annoys Nancy by 
her familiarity with Sir Boger, and 
Nancy, on her part, awakens Sir 
Boger’s jealousy by flirting with Franlr 
Musgrave, to all appearances engaged 
to one of the sisters,- Barbara. Before 
explanations can be given Sir Boger 
is called away to The Soudan. On his 
return he demands an explanation 
from Musgrave, which is forthcoming, 
Nancy being quite cleared. 

Uncle Dick’s Darling*. In 3 Acts. 

By H. J. Byron. Fee, 3 guineas. 4 
Males; 5 Females. Modern Costume. 


Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 3 
Interior Scenes. Dick Dolland, a 
wandering “ Cheap Jack,” scrapes 
enough money together to send his 
niece to a lady’s school. She has been 
betrothed since childhood to Joe, a 
mechanic, but Mary grows such a lady 
that he earnestly considers the oues- 
tion of marrying her to a wealthy Lon¬ 
doner, Mr. Chevenix, who proroses for 
her hand. Dolland dreams Mary and 
Chevenix are married, sees how, after 
a few months, the latter tires of her. 
and just as she comes back heart¬ 
broken to the old home, wakes up. He 
decides to give Joe and Mary his 
hearty support. 

Wheels Within Wheels. In 3 Acts. 

By B,. C. Carton. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 
Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 5 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. A compromising letter from 
Lady Curtoy is in possession of Eger- 
ton Vartrey. Her sister, the Hon. 
Mrs. Bulmer, widow, in order to 
secure this, obtains admission to his 
chambers in his absence. She is 
caught by Lord Chantrell, upon whom 
she prevails to destroy the letter. 
Lady Curtoy, believing her maid has 
stolen the terrible note, arranges t* 
elope with Vartrey, but the sister 
again comes to the fore, and, after 
sacrificing her own reputation, matters 
are put to right*. 


DRAMAS. 


Arrah-Na-Pogue. In 3 Acts. By 
Dion Boucicault. Fee, 3 guineas. 15 
Males; 3 Females. Irish 18th Cen : 
tury Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 
6 Exterior, 7 Interior Scenes. It ; s 
the wedding day of Arrah Meelish and 
Shaun, in County Wicklow, during 
the Fenian rebellion of 17PS. Beamish 
MacCoul. lawful landlord of the estate, 
is a rebel hiding from the Government 
troops. He presents Arrah with £33 
in bank notes. Michael Feeny, the 
Government agent, recognises them to 
be the same previously stolen from 
him, and causes her and Shaun to be 
arrested. Shaun is condemned to 
death by a court-martial, but is par¬ 
doned upon Beamish surrendering 
himself and explaining the circum¬ 
stances by which he came by the 
money. 

Bootle’s Baby. In 4 Acts. By Hugh 
Moss. Fee, 5 guineas. 7 Males; 5 
Female*. Modern Costume, with 


Kegimental Uniform. Time, 2 hours 
15 min. ' 4 Interior Scenes. Helen 
Grace is secretly wedded to Captain 
Gavor Gilchrist, who refuses to ac¬ 
knowledge the marriage. Two and a 
half years elapse, and Helen and baby 
are deserted. In her poverty she de¬ 
posits her baby in, as she supposes, 
her husband’s quarters, but really 
those of Captain Ferrers, her former 
lover. Ferrers adopts the infant. 
Gilchrist is killed in a steeplechase, 
and Helen is left free to marry 
Ferrers. 

Called Back. In 4 Acts. By J. 

Comyns Carr. Fee. 5 guineas. 14 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior. 3 
Interior Scenes. In the prologue, Gil¬ 
bert Vaughan, a blind man, receives 
a letter from Pauline, an Italian he 
had met in Turin, saying the time has 
arrived for her to throw herself on hi* 
protection. She come* to his lodging*. 


H2 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT, 


He finds out she fs connected with 

patriotic conspirators, and insists 
upon attending a meeting in her com¬ 
pany. He hears a murder being com¬ 
mitted, and for certain reasons thinks 
the victim to be Pauline.. Twelve 
months elapse, and .his sight is re¬ 
stored. Pauline is discovered insane 
in a Dr. Cenen's’ house in Soho, but 
under his (Gilbert’s) and his sister’s 
treatment gradually improves. The 
remaining interest of the plav dea’s 
with the means Gilbert emnloys to 
clear Pauline’s character, which had 
been falsely dishonoured. 

Charlatan. In 4 Acts. By Pobt. 
Buchanan. Fee, 3 guineas. 7 Males; 

6 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 80 min. 2 Interior Scenes. 
Isabel Arlington is betrothed to Lord 
Dewsbury. She at one time lived in 
India, where she met Philir> Wood- 
rille, who proposed to her and was re¬ 
jected. Woodville arrives at the. castle 
Isabel lives in to give an exhibition 
of his supposed spiritualistic powers. 
Lord Dewsbury becomes jealous, and 
finally insults him. By use of his 
hypnotic powers, Philip draws Isabel 
from her bedroom, and hears a confes¬ 
sion of her love for him. Waking her 
out of the.trance, he tells her the im¬ 
poster he is. Dowshnr~ gets to know 
of the visit, and breaks off the engage¬ 
ment. Woodville then returns to 
India. 

Cigarette Maker’s Romance. In 

3 Acts. Adapted from Marion Craw¬ 
ford’s Novel. Bv Charles Hannan. 
Hpe. 5 guineas. 7 Males*. 4 Females. 
German Costume..Period 1850. Time. 
2 hours. 2 Inferior Scenes. Count 
Skaratine is exiled from Bussia. and 
an impostor is in ’■'oso'-ssion of t,’s 
estates. He is obliged to earn his 
living at a cigarette maker's shop in 
Munich, beloved and respected bv his 
fellow-workmen, though thev consider 
him to be slightly mad. and secret fy 
ridicule the s+orv of the Property in 
Bussia. The Count is called upon to 
raise 50 marks. His resources are 
exhnusfed. but bis friends manage to 
procure tbe money—Vera, a girl in tbe 
shop, even selling her ovm hair to 
make up the amount. Finally the 
long-expected friends arrive to take 
him back to his native country. 

Dean’s Daughter. In 4 Acts. By 
V. C. Phillips and Svdney Grundy. 
Fee. 3 guineas. 8 If ales; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 4 Interior Scenes. . The Bev. 
Augustin St. Aubyn sells his daughter 
to a wealthy suitor. Sir Henry Craven, 
in exchange for a deanery. The old 
roue soon tires of his wife, and depart* 
to his embassy in Constantinople, witl 
another lady. In his absence, a 


Russian Prince and Mr. George 
Sabine bid for the love of the wife. 
The latter is seen under compromising 
circumstances with Sabine, and Sir 
Henry, returning suddenly from his 
embassy, obtains a divorce. Months 
elapse. Mrs. Craven, under an 
assumed name, is endeavouring to 
regain her lost position in society. 
She is subjected to further degrada¬ 
tion. when Sabine turns up and suc¬ 
cessfully proposes marriage to her. 

Dearer than Life. In 3 Acts. By 
H. J. Byron. Fee. 3 guineas. 8 
Males; 7 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes. The pet of his family, Charles 
Garner gets in + o bad company, into 
debt, and finally forges a receipt for 
money belonging to his employers. In 
order to save his son’s reputation, 
Michael Garner announces himself to 
be the culprit, and manages to get 
Charles out of the country. Years 
elapse, and the family are reduced to 
their last few sh’llings. Tbe landlady 
is on the point of turning them out of 
the house in which thev are lodging 
when Charles, now wealthy and repen¬ 
tant, arrives to retrieve his position. 

Diplomacy. In 4 Acts. By B. C. 
Stephenson and Clement Scott. Fee, 
6 guineas. 8 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 45 
min. 3 Interior Scenes. An adapta¬ 
tion of M. Sardou’s drama, “ Dora.” 
At Monte Carlo, in 1877, lives the 
Marquise de Bio Zares and daughter, 
Dora. Cantain Julian Beauclerc. a 
young English officer, is deeply attached 
to Dora, and. though he is unaware of 
it, Countess Zicka to him. Baron 
Stein a coufd r utiat servant of Russia 
uses both the Countess and Marquise 
as his agents. Julian proposes, and is 
accepted by Dora. The Countess raves 
with.jealousy. In order to satisfy this 
passion, she causes Count Orloff 

. Julian’s friend, to be betrayed to tbe 
Russian po'ice. and manages to place 
the guilt of this betrayal on Dora’s 
head. Julian on his wedd : n? day 
receives tracings of the fortifications 
round Constantinople. Stein informs 
the Countess she must obtain them. 
She does so. and aga : n arranges the 
guilt shall fall on Dora. Julian ia 
overcome, but the Countess is event¬ 
ual v “ cornered,” and makes full 
confession. 

r f 

Hand-fast. In 3 Acts. By Henry 
Hamilton. Fee. 3 guineas. 8 Ma’es; 

6 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 15 min. 3 Interior Scenes. In 
the prologue Jocelyn Woodville. on 
the point of death, in order to prevent 
undesirable people coming into his in¬ 
heritance, marries his brother’s wJe. 
A wonderful drug is administered to 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT. 


143 


him, and he recovers. His wife parts 
from him. but meets him later in 
Naples, where he is enabled to save 
her from insult, and aRer much 
thwarting of villainous plots insti¬ 
gated by the undesirable persons, hus¬ 
band and wife fall in love with each 
other. 

Held by the Enemy. In 5 Acts. By 

William Gillette. Fee, 5 guineas. 10 
Males; 3 Females. Modern Costume 
and Uniform. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 
4 Interior Scenes. The interest is con¬ 
cerned with the American civil war. 
Lieut. Gordon Hayne, serving with the 
Southern army, is betrothed, not by 
affection, to Rachel McCreery. This 
girl is in love with Colonel Prescott, 
of the Northern forces. Hayne, flying 
from his pursuers, bursts in on the 
lovers, and Colonel Prescott at once 
arrests him. Court-martial follows, 
sentence of death is passed. An op¬ 
portunity of escane offers itself to 
Hayne but in doing so he is struck 
and killed by a bullet. Prescott and 
Rachel are thus left free to be mar¬ 
ried. 

Home Secretary. In 4 Acts. By R. 
C. Carton. Fee, 5 guineas. 8 Males; 

4 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 15 min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes. Duncan Trendel and his 
wife Rhoda have drifted apart. A 
frequent visitor to the house is one 
Lecaille, proscribed anarchist, who is 
wanted by the police. Trendel has, 
in his study, a paper Lecaille is 
anxious to see. He ventures there 
under cover of night. Rhoda is dosing 
in a chair, and watches him. Trendel 
comes on the scene, and in order to 
clear her reputation Lecaille owns his 
identity. He is permitted to depart, 
and husband and wife are drawn to¬ 
gether. 

In Hi9 Power. In 3 Acts. By Mark 
Quinton. Fee, 3 guineas. 6 Males; 2 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 15 nun. 2 Interior Scenes. 
Eugene Scara, the black sheep of the 
play, is a spy in the pay of the Ger¬ 
mans. Mane is a girl who has lost 
her parents in the war of 1870, living 
an unhappy life with a relative. Scara 
offers her marriage, which she accepts, 
not on account of her love for him, but 
to escape from the drudgery of her 
existence. She soon discovers her 
marriage to be illegal, Scara already 
having a wife, and clandestinely leaves 
him. Five years elapse. Marie meets 
an officer, Hubert Grahame, falls in 
love, and marries him. The only con¬ 
dition she imposes on her new hus¬ 
band is that he shall not inquire into 
her past history for one year. When 
the time comes Marie shirks the ordeal 
if exposure, but Scara turns up and 


the truth is out. Hubert is at first 
furious, but his better nature prevails, 
and an amicable settlement is effected. 

Jim the Penman. In 4 Acts. By 

Sir Charles Young. Fee, 5 guineas. 
10 Males; 4 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 15 min. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes. Mrs. Ralston was once 
engaged to Louis Percival, but each 
received a letter from the other break¬ 
ing off the betrothal. Percival re¬ 
turns from abroad after long years, 
and finds the girl he had loved mar¬ 
ried to Ralston. He has been recently, 
by means of forgery, defrauded of 
£60.000. and has come home to dis¬ 
cover the forger, supposed to be the 
notorious “Jim the Penman.” It if 
soon seen that the latter and Ralston 
are one and the same. He is discovered 
to be implicated in a large diamond 
robbery. Quarrels break out among 
the gang working the theft, and he 
dies of heart disease during a struggle 
with a confederate. 

John A’ Dreams. In 4 Acts. By C. 
Haddon Chambers. Fee, 5 guineas. 
10 Males; 3 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 30 mm. 1 Ex¬ 
terior, 1 Interior Scene. The com¬ 
pact of friendship, made in their 
Oxford days, between a dreamy poet, 
Harold Wynn, and an impetuous man 
of strong will, Sir Hubert Garlinge, 
is not shaken until the inevitable 
woman comes between them. They 
both love Kate Cloudy and on her 
giving her heart to Wynn, Hubert’s 
jealousy and envy are aroused. 
Harold is a martyr to opium. He 
promises Kate to give up the habit. 
Hubert manages to procure a note 
from his friend, breaking the com¬ 
pact, and containing merely the 
sentence, “ 1 release you." He then 
drugs Harold’s drink with laudanum 
and gives the note to Kate. She 
naturally considers it has reference 
to her engagement and consents to 
go away with Hubert. Harold re¬ 
covers and follows his betrothed to 
the yacht where Hubert had carried 
her to. The latter admits himself 
to be beaten and the levers are left 
to themselves. 

Magda. In 4 Acts. Adapted from 
Suderman’s great play, “ Heimat.” 
Fee, 5 guineas. 4 Males;. 7 

Females. M odern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene throughout. Magda writhes 
under the stern parental despotism ol 
her home, and as she will not marry 
the man her father has chosen for her 
leaves the house. The play opens 
when Magda returns, now a well- 
known stage personality, to sing at a 
concert in aid of the poor of her native 
village. The father is suspicious o t 


144 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT 


her method of life, and as the play 
proceeds it is seen his suspicions are 
justified. The man who has wronged 
Magda offers to marry her on condi¬ 
tion she shall disown her child. She 
indignantly refuses. Her father picks 
up a pistol to shoot her, but before he 
can use it apoplexy overtakes him and 
he succumbs. 

Man’s Shadow. In 4 Acts. By 
Robert Buchanan. Fee, 5 guineas. 
12 Males; 4 Females. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 4 In¬ 
terior Scenes. During the war of 1870 
Laroque, gentleman soldier, is charged 
with the shooting of Luversan, con¬ 
demned as a spy. The latter strongly 
resembles Laroque. (The two parts 
are played by the same character.) A 
German shell bursts on the prison, 
enabling him to escape, though he is 
supposed to have been killed. The 
war is ended, and Laroque’s resources 
are crippled. He owes a banker, Ger- 
vier, a large sum of money. Luversan 
reappears with full intention of re¬ 
venge. He murders Gervier, and 
manages to fix the guilt on Laroque, 
the latter’s own wife and child credit¬ 
ing the evidence. Sentence of penal 
servitude for life is passed, but in 
the last act Luversan is betrayed and 
the truth exposed. 

M arriage. In 3 Acts. By Brandon 
Thomas and Henry Keeling. Fee, 3 
guineas. 4 Males; 2 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours. 
1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. 
Lady Belton marries her husband 
simply in order to prevent him espous¬ 
ing an old schoolfellow, and no sooner 
has done so than she endeavours to 
obtain a divorce. Insufficient evidence 
is forthcoming, and the petition is dis¬ 
missed. Twelve months elapse, dur¬ 
ing which time she has managed, by 
trickery, to obtain her end, and Sir 
John Belton comes home from abroad 
to find his character blackened. He 
finds some consolation in the com¬ 
pany of the above-mentioned school¬ 
fellow, whose husband is supposed to 
have been devoured by cannibals. 
Lady Belton relents of her foolish 
jealousy, and re-marries him. 

Middleman. In 4 Acts. By Henry 
Arthur Jones. Fee, 5 guineas. 12 
Males; 6 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 20 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes. Joseph Chandler is the head 
of a large pottery business, making his 
fortune through a man in his employ, 
Cyrus Blenkarn. This latter in his 
love for his art finds no time for 
money. His daughter Mary has won 
the _ love of Chandler’s son, who is 
destined to be another’s husband. 
Mutual love has led to mutual sin, 
and though young Chandler loves 
Mary dearly, he is dependent upon his 
father. He is obliged to leave the 


country, and write to her to meet and 
marry him in Paris. The letter 
into his father’s hands, and Mary is 
still in ignorance. Cyrus then becomes 
aware how matters stand. He com¬ 
mands Chandler to recall his son. The 
rich man refuses, whereupon Blenkarn 
ruins the business and takes it on 
himself. Mary and young Chandler 
are duly honourably married. 

Moths. In 4 Acts. By H. Hamilton. 
Fee, 5 guineas. 5 Males; 5 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 15 
min. 1 Exterior, 3 Interior Scenes. 
A woman of the world. Lady Dolly 
Vanderdecken, is endeavouring to re¬ 
pair her broken fortune by marrying 
her daughter to a Russian, Prince 
Zouroff, a titled scoundrel, as she 
knows. In the same house is 
Raphael de Correze, celebrated singer, 
who loves Vera Vanderdecken. He 
asks for her hand, but Lady Dolly ex¬ 
horts Vera to marry the Prince, and 
on her refusal invents a story that she 
has been compromised.by the Russian, 
thus making the girl believe her 
mother is in his power. Vera relents, 
and marries as her mother desires. 
She is infamously treated from the 
commencement, but Correze comes to 
her rescue, fights a duel and kills her 
husband, thus making Vera and him¬ 
self happy. 

Old Heidelberg-. In 6 Acts. By 
Rudolph Bleichmann. Fee, five 
guineas. 11 Males; 3 Females. 
Modern Costume with German uni¬ 
form. . Time, 2 lrnurs 45 min. 1 
Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. The 
Hereditary Prince of Karlsburg pines 
amiast the cold artificiality of the 
Court etiquette, his only friend being 
his tutor, Dr. Juttner, who is eager 
to take him to Heidelberg. There 
they arrive, end Prince Karl at once 
starts a flirtation with Kathie, an inn¬ 
keeper’s daughter. In the 3rd Act, 
just as he is preparing to leave with 
her for Paris, the Staatsminister from 
Karlsburg arrives with the news of 
the Regent’s paralysis, rendering 
Karl’s return essential. News is also 
brought of a marriage arranged for 
him with a foreign Princess. Karl, 
after a struggle, returns to his castle, 
but being “ visited ” one day by the 
‘ KoHermann ” fiom Heidelberg he 
decides to return there once more. 
When he does so he finds everything 
changed, and after a pathetic farewell 
embrace with Kathie, leaves his old 
life for ever. 

One of the Best. In 4 Acts. By 

Seymour Hicks and George Edwardes. 
Fee, 5 guineas. 16 Males; 4 Females. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 20 
min. 5 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes. 
Mary Penrose loves Lieut. Dudley 
Keppel, V.C.. 2nd Highlanders. Philip 
Ellsworth has betrayed Esther, 
daughter of Lieut.-General Coventry, 
and urges her to procure certain 


PLAYS IN MANUSCRIPT. 


145 


Government secrets from her father’s 
safe. She does this, and manages to 
throw the blame on Dudley, who is 
court-martialled and. publicly dis¬ 
graced. General Coventry overhears 
a conversation between his daughter 
and her persecutor, matters thus being 
straightened, and Dudley reinstated. 

Prisoner of Zenda. In a Prologue 
and 4 Acts. By Edward Rose. Eee, 
5 guineas. 15 Males; 4 Females. 
Costume, period 1733 for the prologue. 
Modern and Uniform for the body of 
the play. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 

1 Exterior, 4 Interior Scenes. An 
adaptation of the celebrated novel by 
Anthony Hope. The English family 
of Rassendyll possess a certain amount 
of Elphberg, Ruritania’s reigning 
family, blood in their veins. The 
reason of the liaison is explained in 
the prologue.. Rudolph Rassendyll, 
while travelling on the Continent, 
determines to journey to Stelsau for 
the coronation of the reigning Elph¬ 
berg. To further his own ends, Duke 
Michael, the latter’s cousin, endea¬ 
vours to prevent the ceremony taking 
place. He has the King drugged the 
night before, and carried away to his 
castle. Rassendyll happens to be the 
King’s double, with exception to his 
moustache. Those in charge of the 
King persuade Rassendyll to shave 
and impersonate their Royal master 
on the morrow. He does so, and, after 
the event, successfully undertakes the 
rescue of the Elphberg from the 
Duke’s clutches. 

Red Lamp. In 4 Acts. By Outram 
Tristram. Fee, 5 guineas. 10 Males; 
3 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 

2 hours 20 min. 2 Interior Scenes. 
The terror of Nihilism infests St. 
Petersburg. General Morakoff, to¬ 
gether with a secret police agent, 
Demetrius, is instrumental in effect¬ 
ing several arrests. His wife. Princess 
Claudia, discovers her brother, Prince 
Alexis, to be implicated in a plot on 
the Tsar’s life. In order to warn h’'m 
of the days of the police raids she 
places a red lamp in the palace win¬ 
dow. One of the conspirators, turns 
traitor, murders the Prince, but is shot 
by a servant. The plot is frustrated 
just in time by an American journalist, 
engaged to the Princess’s daughter. 

Robin Goodfellow. In 3 Acts. By 

R. C. Carton. Fee, 5 guineas. 5 
Males; 5 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior Scene 
throughout. A wealthy old lady, Mrs. 
Barbrook, has two daughters, Grace 
and Constance, and a scamp of a hus¬ 
band. She is induced to sign a power 
of attorney in her husband’s favour, 
who promptly loses the cash in a stock 
exchange speculation, instead of pay¬ 
ing off a mortgage as deputed. He 


then, to serve his own ends, tries to 
make his daughters marry against 
their wishes, but, being defeated at all 
turns, and finally thoroughly exposed, 
retires. 

Sunday. 4 Acts. By Thomas Race- 
ward. Fee, 5 guineas. 8 Males; 3 
Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 30 min. 1 Interior, 1 ExteriOT 
Scene. The problem of the piece is: 
Can a man with propriety marry the 
woman who has killed, or caused to be 
killed, his own brother? The play 
answers: Yes, if he is deep enough in 
love with her. Sunday is the orphan 
daughter of a family in England, 
nourished and cherished in the Far 
West by four rough, honest fellows. 
Arthur Brinthorpe is courting her with 
no honourable motive, and when one 
of the four finds Sunday struggling in 
Brinthorpe’s arms, he puts lead 
through his heart. Sunday goes to 
England, meets and falls in love with 
Brinthorpe’s brother, and the play 
justifies its answer to the problem. 

Tares. In 3 Acts. By Mrs. Oscar 
Beringer. Fee, 3 guineas. 7 Males; 
5 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene. 
Nigel Chester, lord of the manor, is 
desperately in love with Mai'garet 
Gyde, the Rector’s daughter. He has 
previously had relations with Rachael 
Denison, who has borne him a son. 
She deposits the infant at the Rectory 
gates, and Margaret, knowing the 
whole story,, adopts the child. Seven 
years elapse. Margaret still refuses 
to marry Nigel. He is hurt while 
hunting, and brought to the Rectory. 
Rachael re-appears and demands her 
child. Margaret has grown to love 
the boy, and refuses to part with him. 
The mother openly avows the parent¬ 
age. Nigel, filled with remorse, offers 
to marry Rachael if she will leave the 
boy to Margaret. She refuses, but 

her heart being touched she repen's. 
She departs, and the two are made 
happy. 

Tree of Knowledge. In 5 Acts. By 

R. C. Carton. Fee. 5 guineas. 7 
Males; 4 Females. Modern Costume. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 1 'Exterior, 2 
Interior Scenes. Thinking Brian 
Hollingworth exceedingly wealthy, 
“ Belle ” willingly marries him. She 
has the reputation of having run away 
with a clergyman’s son and left him 
as soon as they had run through his 
money. When she discovers Brian is 
practically ruined she turns her atten¬ 
tion in other directions—a rich and 
cynical suitor. She arranges to elope 
with him, but Nigel Stanyon, a friend 
of the Hollingworths, enters and com¬ 
mands her to stay. The husband 
enters the room at the moment. Belle 
accuses Nigel of improper relations 


H8 


PLATS IN MANUSCRIPT 


with her. Hollingworth orders him 
from the place, and lies down to go to 
sleep. Belle seizes the opportunity to 
elope. 

Trilby. In 3 Acts. By Paul M. 
Potter. Pee, 5 guineas. 11 Males; 
7 Females. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 30 min. 2 Interior Scenes. 
Adaptation from Du Maurier’s novel. 
A musician breathes his talent into an 
artist’s model, who, when under his 
influence, sings divinely, charming all 
Paris. Svengali, the hypnotist- 
musician. is supposed to expire as 
the result of his expenditure of mes¬ 
meric influence, and Trilby, the model, 
coming home, is so affected by the 
sight of her former persecutor’s por¬ 
trait, which he sends her, that she 
falls back on a couch dying. 

Under the Red Robe. In 4 Acts. 
By Edward Rose. Fee, 5 guineas. 17 
Males; 4 Females. Costume, period 
Louis XIV. Time, 2 hours 35 min. 1 
Exterior, 4 Interior Scenes. Adapta¬ 
tion of Stanley Weyman’s novel. Gil 
de Berault, duellist and card-sharper, 
of Richelieu’s time, wounds an Eng¬ 
lishman in a duel. The penalty laid 
down by the Cardinal for duelling is 
death. A nobleman, Henri de Coch- 
foret, is hatching rebellion on the 
Spanish frontier. As the price of his 
pardon, the Cardinal orders de Berault 
to proceed to the Cochforet castle and 
arrest Henri. He goes on his errand, 
and falta in love with Renee, Henri’s 
sister. She finds out he is a spy, and 
he resolves to return to Paris and his 
death. Richelieu is out of favour with 
the King. and all ends happily. 

Viuag-e Priest. In 5 Acts. By Sydney 
Grundy. Fee, 5 guineas. 4 Males; 5 


Females. Modern Costume. Time, 2 
hours 20 min. 1 Exterior, 3 Interior 
Scenes. In bygone days the Count de 
Tremeillan discovers his wife’s infi¬ 
delity with President D’Arcay, and 
challenges him to a duel. The Presi¬ 
dent steals the gun of a gamekeeper, 
named Torquenie, and murders the 
Count ere the duel takes place. Sus¬ 
picion falls on the gamekeeper, and 
he is sentenced to 10 years’ penal ser 
vitude. When the play starts at 
Rouen, Armsnd, D’Arcay’s son. is en¬ 
gaged to Marguerite, the Count’s 
daughter. Both the parents are dead, 
and Toiquenie escapes from his prison 
after serving nine years. Armand 
learns of the case, and determines to 
thoroughly sift the matter. He does 
so, and though incriminating his 
future mother-in-law, a happy ending 
is obtained Torquenie allowing the 
guilt to remain on his shoulders and 
going back to prison. 

Woman’s Reason. In 3 Acts. By 
F. C. Philips and Charles Brookfield. 
Fee. 3 guineas. 9 Males; 3 Females. 
Time. 2 hours 15 min. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. 3 Interior Scenes. Stephen 
D’Acosta, a rich Jew, owns heavy 
mortgages upon the estate of Lord 
Bletchley. and, to prevent his foreclos¬ 
ing, the latter arranges a marriage, 
much aganst her will, between his 
daughter Nina and Stephen. Sever 
years elapse. The unhappiness of the 
marriage increases, and, after an out¬ 
break. Nina leaves her husband with 
a Captain Crozier. She soon separates 
from him, and phen, finding out 
her place of retreat, discovers Nina ir 
her solitude has learnt to love him. 


liADIES* PM-T8 


147 


LADIES’ PLAYS. 

ONE FEMALE. 

Nlg-ht of Suspense. Monologue in 1 is a very strong little piece, describe 

Act. As performed by Mrs. Stirling. ing a wife’s jealousy, and the manner 

Modern Costume. Time, 16 min. 1 In- in which she is mistaken, 
terior Scene; 1 Lady Comedian. This 

TWO FEMALES. 


Backward Child. 1 Act. By H. L. 
Childe Pemberton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Child, aged 12. A gover¬ 
ness is engaged for a backward child, 
who proves to be so precocious that 
she is obliged to resign the appoint¬ 
ment. 

Bird in the Bush. 1 Act. By May 
C. Henry. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Lady 
Comedians. Lady Frances Travers, 
wishing to find out if Dolly de Crecy’s 
affection for Lord Travers (Frances’s 
brother) is genuine, imitates his voice 
from behind a bush, and is duly satis- 
field after an amusing conversation. 

Bosom Friends. 1 Act. By Horace 
W. C. Newte. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Cecilia Grant and Fanny 
Wilson are bosom friends, but Cecilia’s 
husband threw over Fanny to marry 
her. Fanny discloses this to Cecilia, 
and tries to create dissension between 
her and her husband, but is not suc¬ 
cessful. 

Brown Paper Parcel. 1 Act. 

Modern Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Miss Ansrelina Browne is about to 
vacate the apartments that Miss Ara¬ 
bella Brown has taken. One ex¬ 
pects a hat and the other a bonnet. A 
brown paper parcel arrives, and 
through receiving a telegram not to 
open it, they think it is an infernal 
machine. They immerse the parcel 
in water, and then find they have 
ruined both hat and bonnet. 

Castle in Spain. 1 Act. By 
Leopold Montague. Modern a 1 
Spanish Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Lady Comedians. 
Mabel Howe-Green has received an 
offer of marriage from a supposed 
Spanish Grandee. To learn Spanish 
she engages the services of Senora 
Mantilla, who happens to be the wife 
of her lover. Singing and dancing 
can be introduced. 

Cheerful and Musical. 1 Act. By 
Ina Leon Cassilis. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. 
M rs. Grahame advertises for a cheer¬ 
ful and musical companion, and a 


prim and mournful looking old maid 
arrives, totally unsuited for the 

situation. A most amusing scene then 
occurs. 

Cissy’s Engagement. 1 Act. By 
Ellen Lancaster-Wallis. Modern 

Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 Child 

(aged 3 3). A child asks her mother 
if she will consent to her being en¬ 
gaged to Harry Carruthers as she has 
nether father nor brother. The 
mother intimates she is about to have 
both, as she is going to marry Harry’s 
father. 

Contradictions. 1 Act. By Agnea 
Leigh. Modern Costume. Time, 7 
min. Any Scene; 2 Old Women. 
Two old women meet and do nothing 
but contradict each other. They 
afterwards make it up. 

Cross Questions and Crooked 
Answers. l Act. By Frances and 
Florence Bell. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Women. Miss Tipper, ancient 
and sentimental, advertises for the 
care of a child, and her apartment 
is mistaken by Mrs. Sylvester for 
that of a lady who lives in the same 
street, and who gives a happy home 
to dogs. Throughout the conserva 
tion Mrs. Sylvester is alluding to her 
dog, and Miss Tipper imagines she is 
talking about her child. 

Crystal Gazer. l Act. By Leopold 

Montague. Modern Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walk ng 
Ladies. Madame la Sorciere professes 
to tell fortunes. Bessie Blank calls 
upon her to see if she can learn what 
has become of her lover. Madame 
mistakes her for another lady and 
talks about a lost dog. Bessie 
threatens to expose her, but relents 
when she obtains news of her lover 
who had written to Madame to learn 
Bessie’s address. 

’fencry Brown. 1 Act. By Edward 

Granville. Modern Coster Costume. 
Time, 20 min. Either Exterior or 
Interior Scene. 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Walking Ladv. ’Melia and Liza are 
flower girls. The former is exceedingly 
downcast, and 'Melia is trving to 
discover the reason. When she do^s 
she finds Liza has fallen in love with 


143 


LADIES PLATS. 


her fMelia’s) sweetheart, and that 
the affection is reciprocated on his 
part. 

Eternal Masculine. 1 Act. By 
Horace W. C. Newte. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Ladies. Two 
young ladies of totally different dis¬ 
positions find they have been jilted 
by the same man, and sympathise 
with each other. 

Fair Encounter. 1 Act. By C. M. 

Bae. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Lady 
Comedians. Mrs. Celia Grenville dis¬ 
guises herself as a maid and takes a 
situation at Lady Clara St. John’s, to 
discover what she is like.. Lady 
Clara finds her out, and turns the 
tables on her, making her kneel at her 
feet and put on her shoes. 

Fast Friends. 1 Act. By Re Henry. 

Modern Costume. Time, 22 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Two young ladies, who are fast 
friends, do not get on very well with 
their husbands. The latter, in order 
to bring them to their senses, wr te 
to each other’s wife, which arouses 
their jealousy, and they quarrel. 
They find out it is a trick, and resolve 
to treat their husbands better in the 
future. 

Happy Ending 1 . 1 Act. By Bertha 

Moore. Modern Costume. Time, 15 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. 
Carzon, a rich lady, many years pre¬ 
viously left her husband, as she 
imagined he married her for her 
money. Eighteen years afterwards 
her daughter Ursula arrives to act 
as her companion. Ursula tells a 
story which has a similarity to Mrs. 
Carzon’s life, a happy ending to which 
occurs when she discloses herself to 
her mother. 

Imogen’s New Cook. 1 Act. By 
Mabel Smedd. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene: 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. May 
Leslie undertakes to interview a new 
cook for her sister, who is ill. The 
Duchess of Evergreen arrives to 
solicit assistance at a bazaar, and 
May mistakes her for the cook. The 
Duchess, on learning this, declares it 
is the greatest compliment she ever 
received. 

In Two Minds. 1 Act. By A. M. 
Heathcote. Modern Costume. Time, 

20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. Lady 
Margaret Miniver returns a case sup¬ 
posed to contain a diamond necklace 
to Lord Francis, thinking he will con¬ 
clude she has rejected his proposal of 
marriage, but her maid Parkins had 
been trying on the necklace, and 
the case has been sent °mpty. Lady 
Margaret afterwards changes her 


mind, and is glad to find that Lord 
Francis interprets her action as at 
acceptance. 

Joint household (A). 1 Act. By 

Mrs. Hugh Bell. Modern Costume. 
Time, 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Walking Ladies. A most amusing 
dialogue between Mrs. Smithers and 
Mrs. Tallett, whose husbands have 
arranged for them jointly to take 
apartments at the seaside. They 
quarrel over the housekeeping, and 
the climax is reached when Mrs. 
Smithers discovers her husband had 
prop 9 sed to Mrs. Tallett priot to her 
marriage. 

Lady Interviewer. 1 Act. By 

Herbert Swears. Modern Costume. 
Time, 16 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
Very laughable piece. Eliza, the 
housemaid, during the absence of her 
mistress, a celebrated authoress, tries 
on a beautiful mantle and hat be¬ 
longing to the latter, wheD a lady 
journalist calls to interview the 
authoress, and seeing Eliza so beauti¬ 
fully dressed, mistakes the maid for 
the mistress. 

Little Miss Muffet. 1 Act. By 

Ellen Lancaster-Wallis. Modern 
Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walk¬ 
ing Lady. Miss Muffet, a lady of 
uncertain age, calls upon a bride, to 
whom she confesses she has an offer 
of marriage. A very humorous scene 
occurs in Miss Muffet obtaining ail 
particulars about a honeymoon, and 
trying to make out she is not going 
to accept the proposal. 

Miss Honey’s Treasure. 1 Aet. 

Modern Costume. Time, 16 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Woman; 1 
Chambermaid. Miss Honey, an 
elderly spinster, misreads a telegram 
in consequence of her not wishing to 
let an ignorant servant know that she 
has to use spectacles. The servant 
puts matters right, and she is ad¬ 
mitted to be a treasure. 

Mistaken Identity. 1 Act. By 

Kate Goddard. Time, 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Uxu Woman; 1 
Lady Comedian. Dorothy, who is ex¬ 
pecting her fiance costumed for a 
fancy dress ball, is visited by a rich 
old aunt whom she mistakes for Dick 
in disguise. Thinking to tease Dick 
she puts on slang and' pretends she 
flirts with other young men, and does 
not discover her mistake till she has 
thoroughly shocked her aunt. 

Narrow Escape. 1 Act. By Re 

Henry. Modern Costume. Time, 15 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Walking 
Ladies. A very amusing conversa¬ 
tion between a matriculated governess 
an< f h er pupil. The former induces 
the latter to give up her lover for 
learning. The governess describing 


LADIES 7 PLATS. 


149 


an attempt at suicide, the pupil 
imagines it is her lover. This, how¬ 
ever. is disproved by a letter arriving 
from him. The governess, in despair, 
finally gives up her pupil. 

Number Seventeen. 1 Act. By 

Agnes Leigh. Modern Costume. 
Time. 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Miss 
Maria Jones, a cross-grained old 
spinster, receives a visit from Lucille, 
who claims to be her niece. After an 
amusing scene, it transpires that 
Lucille has got into the wrong house; 
but before leaving, she manages to 
subdue Miss Jones’s temper. 

Other Woman (The). 1 Act. By 

Ellis Kingsley. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 2 Lady Comedians. 
Silvie Graham receives a proposal of 
marriage from her cousin Jack. If 
she accepts him she is to -wear a 
bunch of violets at a ball, but if she 
rejects him she is to wear a bunch of 
anemones. She meets her old friend 
Enid Vivian and learns that she was 
once engaged to Jack, but had to 
reject him, as she stood between him 
and a fortune. Silvie generously 
sacrifices her own happiness by givmg 
Enid the violets, and she wears the 
anemones. 

Shattered Nerve#. 1 Act. By 

H. L. Childe Pemberton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 16" min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Walking Ladies. Mrs. 
Piercey-Sharp, M.D., is visited by a 
patient who imagines _ she has 
shattered nerves, and is highly indig¬ 
nant because she is told she has 
nothing the matter with her, and 
decides to go to her former dpctois, 
who will listen to her complaints. 

Strange Relation. 1 Act. By 
Leopold Montague. Modern Cos¬ 
tumes Time, 12 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Floss advertises for her long- 
lost scapegrace brother, Dick. He 
answers, and says his wife will call 
and see her. A dealer in old clothes 
named Mrs. Richard calls, and Floss 
mistake# her for her brother’s wife. 


Superior Person. 1 Act. By 

In a Leon Cassilis. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Old Woman. A very 
humorous dialogue. A young wife, 
thinking she is not fit for household 
duties, resolves to have a housekeeper. 
Her mother-in-law recommends a 
superior person, who immediately 
commences to dictate to the wife to 
such an extent that she is informed 
that her services will not be required. 

Those Landladies. 1 Act. By 
Ina Leon Cassilis. Modern Costume. 
Time, 10 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking I ady. 
Isabel Morton receives a letter from 
her lover and comments upon it as 
she reads it. Mrs. Dobbs, the 
chattering landlady, keeps up a con¬ 
versation all the time and imagines 
Isabel is answering her. 

Too Many Cooks. 1 Act. By 
Herbert Swears. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Walking Lady. Mrs. 
Ingleby and Maud Didcot arrive at a 
servants’ registry office to engage a 
cook. They both mistake each other 
for a servant seeking a situation. 
After a very amus : ng scene, on find¬ 
ing out their mistake, Mrs. Ingleby 
invites Maud to tea. This is a very 
successful piece, and can be highly 
recommended. 

Two Jolly Bachelors. 1 Act. By 
Edward Martin-Seymour. Moflern 
Costume. Time. 20 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 2 Walking Ladies. Tws 
young ladies, having attended a lec¬ 
ture against “ Man,” resolve to dis¬ 
card their lovers, but on receiving 
letters from them, they relent and 
intimate that two happy wives will 
soon be made out of “Two Jolly 
Bachelors.” 

Woman Triumphant (A). 1 Act. 

By Mrs. Edward Norton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 22 min. 1 Interior 
Scene. A young wife runs away from 
her husband, and comes to the house 
of a friend, who enacts the role of 
peacemaker quite successfully. 


THREE FEMALES 


Broken Idylls. 1 Act. By Mabel 
S. Medd. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Exterior Scene (not 
necessary); 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Clare Brabant visits 
her cousin, Madge Cedar, and en- 
deavcffirs to make the latter believe 
she is engaged to Mr. Gudgeon Biown, 
Madge’s lover. She produces a rholo¬ 
graph of this gentleman, but Madge 
discovers, much to the annoyance of 
Clare, that the latter ha# purchased 
It. 


Doctor’s Engagements. 1 Act. 

By the Hon. Mary Pakington. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Old Woman. An 
old lady is much incensed against her 
niece, as she believes the latter to be 
engaged to ° young doctor. The 
doctor, however, is engaged to a third 
party. In this piece tne young girl 
doubles the part of herself and twin 
■istev. 


155 


ladies’ 


PLATS. 


Helpless Couple. 1 Act. By M. 

Hayman. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Exterior Scene. 2 Old 
Women; 1 Chambermaid. Two old 
ladies receive an anonymous com¬ 
munication : “ Forewarned is fore¬ 

armed. There are some who would 
harm you. Take the advice of one who 
knows, and beware.” In spite of the 
gallant heroics of Elizabeth, maid- 
of-all-work, consternation prevails 
until the paper is proved to be an 
advertisement, and the caution is to 
beware of imitations. 

Lady Elizabeth Poole Gubbins. 1 

Act. By A. L. H. Time, 20 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
The ingenuous young wife of a Vicar 
is so easily deceived by begging 
parishioners that one of her friends, 
Lady Constance Poole, in order to 
open her eyes, plays her a trick by 
dressing as a poor old woman, who 
claims to be the rightful Lady 
Constance Poole. The young wife 
has to admit that, alter all, she could 
be deceived in human nature. 

Miss Flipper’s Holiday. 1 Act. 

By Harriet Florence Bell. Modern 
Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Women; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. During Miss Flipper’s absence 
on a holiday, her servant, Maria, 
ai ranges to let the house on her own 
account to a Mrs. Albatross. Miss 
Flipper returns unexpectedly, and 
overhears the conversation. Maria, 
however, persuades her that Mrs. 
Albatross is an escaped lunatic, and 
that she was only trying to humour 
her and get her away. 

Nice Quiet Chat. 1 Act. Modern 

Costume. Time. 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Woman; 2 Walking 
Lad'es. Eleanor Rawdon calls on her 
friend, Mrs. Vincent, who requests her 
to hide behind a screen, while she 
gets rid of Jane Lomax, an old 
chatterbox, her cousin. After many 
fruitless attempts, and when they 
think Jane has departed, she suddenly 
returns, and, seeing Eleanor, resolves 
to give up an appointment, and have 
a nice quiet chat. 

Obstinate Woman. 1 Act. By 
Jessie Corrie. Modern Costume. 


Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Walking Lady; 1 Lady Comedian; 1 
Chambermaid. Lady Maturin, just 
married, proves to be very obstinate, 
and her sister-in-law, in order to 
teach her a lesson, assumes the guise 
of a French maid, and very mnch 
upsets Lady Maturin’e dignity. 
“ Broken English ” is introduced in 
this piece. 

Petticoat Perfidy. 1 Act. By Sir 
Charles Young. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Lady Comedians; 1 Chambermaid. 
Mrs. Norwood Jones has a grudge 
against Mrs. Mountrevor for having 
supplanted an admirer of hers. She 
causes her to spend an evening in a 
private box at the theatre with a 
fashionable tailor, much to the ridicule 
of their mutual friends. Mrs. 
Mountrevor retaliates by introducing 
her maidservant as a princess, and 
placing Mrs. Jones in an equally em¬ 
barrassing position. 

Prior Claim (The). 1 Act. By 
Florence Lancaster. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Lady Comedian; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Hettie West and Lilly 
Deane, two girls, call on their friend, 
Miss Beresford, aged 40, and relate 
how they have made a conquest of a 
retired naval officer. This officer, 
however, is an old sweetheart of Miss 
Beresford, and renews an offer of 
marriage to her. 

Two Misses Ibbetson. 1 Act. 

By Ina Leon Cassilis. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 15 min. 1 Inter or 
Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 2 Old Maids. 
Mrs. Aylward goes to live in the 
country, and is called on by the two 
Misses Ibbetson, who so overwhelm 
her with their gossip and scandal that 
she is glad to return to town again 

When the Wheels Run Down. 
(Drama). 1 Act. By Maud M. 
Rogers. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene- 1 Old 
Woman; 1 Comedian; 1 Chamber¬ 
maid. A charming and pathetic 
play. _ Miss Priscilla Dormer receives 
a visit from a former lover after 
fifteen years’ absence. He is gratified 
at finding he is not too late. The 
lover does not appear on the scene; 
there is a very good maidservant’s 
part. 


FOUR FEMALES. 


Lady in Search of an Heiress. 

1 Act. By Agnes Leigh. Modern 
Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Women; 2 Walking 
Ladies. Lady Moneybags is in search 
of an heiress, and meets some of her 
relations, two of whom mistake her 
for a dressmaker, and behave in a dis¬ 
respectful manner. Lady Moneybags 
thereupon selects one who has assisted 
her without discovering who she wm. 


Snowed Up with a Duchess. 

Comedy in 1 Act. By A. C. Davis. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Walking Lady; 
3 Lady Comedians. It has been the 
longing wish of a parvenue to make 
the acquaintance of a Duchess living 
in the neighbourhood. By accident 
she is brought into the company of the 
Duchess, and mistaking her for a dress¬ 
maker, completely exposes her am hi. 


ladies’ plats. 


151 


tion to become a member of the elite 
society. 

Such is Fame! 1 Act. By Herbert 
Swears. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 Interior Scene: 1 Walking 
1 Chambermaid; 2 Old 
Jessica Wynbush has 


25 min. 
Lady; 
W omen. 


FIVE FEMAJ.ES. 


written a novel, in which appears a 
caricature of her two aunts. They 
call to protest, and an amusing scene 
ensues. They are finally pacified on 
being assured that the character is 
drawn from a next-door neighbour. 
An excellent servant girl’s part in 
this play. 


Aunt Minerva. 1 Act. By 
Catherine Tudor. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Woman; 1 Comic Old Woman; 
1 Lady Comedian; 2 Walking Ladies. 
Aunt Minerva has brought up her 
niece Altiora upon the higher system 
of education. Altiora has two dis¬ 
ciples in Isabel and Sybilla. These 
three young ladies, after discussing 
the matter with an old servant, how¬ 
ever, come to the conclusion that it 
is quite intellectual to fall in love. 


Mrs. Willis’s Will. 1 Act. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene. Should no living relative 
of Mrs. Willis exist, she leaves her 
property to two of her husband’s 
relations, who imagine they have come 
into the money, when a niece of Mrs. 
Willis is discovered. 


By Sibyl 
Time, 30 
AValking 
Maude 


Deceitful Miss Smiths. 

Act. By Sibyl Caldwell. Modern 
Costume. T.me, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Walking Lady ; 4 Old Ladies; 
1 Chambermaid. Living with three 
maiden sisters, her aunts, Ethel is 
treated as a child. She becomes 
secretly engaged, and a letter addressed 
“ Miss E. Smith,” from her fiance, 
comes into the possession of the old 
ladies—they all have Christian names 
commencing with *‘ E.” Each, with 
great pleasure, imagines the endearing 
note intended for her. 

Domestic Entanglement. Farce in 
1 Act. By Sibyl Caldwell. Modern 
Costume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Lady Comedians; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. Every ail¬ 
ment known to Harley Street has 
settled on Mrs. Groner, according to 
her own account. In reality, she in 


Their IMcw Paying: Guest. Farce in 

1 Act. By Sibyl Caldwell. Modern 
Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Old Lady; 2 Walking Ladies; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Chambermaid. 
Through an alarming telegram received 
from a neighbouring asylum, the Love 
days imagine an arriving paying guest 
to be an escaped lunatic. This mis¬ 
understanding causes her reception to 
be anything but hospitable. 
Up-to-Date. Farce in 1 Act. 

Caldwell. Modern Costume, 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Lady; 4 Lady Comedians, 
lives with two aunts, the landlady, and 
the cook, all of an uncertain age. For 
a joke, her fiance inserts an advertise¬ 
ment in the “Matrimonial Lews” for 
an up-to-date wife. All the household 
turn up at the rendezvous, with amus¬ 
ing results. 

SIX FEMALES. 

Farce in 1 duces in this manner the sympathy of 
others. Her daughters decide, in 
secret, to get a lady doctor’s opinion. 
Now, Mrs. Groner is fortifying herself 
to interview a new cook ; and the fol¬ 
lowing calamities are disentangled : — 
The lady doctor mistakes the calling 
cook for her patient, who in turn takes 
the former for her mistress; then Mrs. 
Groner interviews the lady doctor in 
error for the cook. 


SEVEN FEMALES. 


Our Aunt from California. Farce 

in 1 Act. By Madalene Demarest 
Barnum. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 4 Walking Ladies; 2 Lady 
Comedians. An exceedingly funny 
farce. Three sisters are expecting 
Msits from a rich aunt from California 
and a dressmaker respectively. The 
aunt is taken for the dressmaker, and 
vice versa 


At Cross Purposes. 1 Act. By 
Ada M. Rose. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 4 
Old Women; 2 Walking Ladies; 1 
Chambermaid. Miss Deborah is 
alarmed at a letter she rece ves from 


her nephew from Italy, stating that 
he is married, and his wife will visit 
her. Her servant Martha mis'akes a 
beggar girl for the wife, and Miss 
Deborah is much relieved when the 
real wife appears. 


EIGHT FEMALES. 


Mere Man. 1 Act. By Herbert 
Swears. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 mins. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Lady 
Comedians; 6 Walking Ladies. The 
characters consist of the president 
and members of the “ Emancipated 
Ladies’ Club formed to combat the 
malignant cunning of man’s efforts to 
ensnare defenceless woman into un¬ 


desire d matrimony. One Harry Petti- 
fer determines to break up the con¬ 
cern. He makes love, proposes, and 
is accepted by all eight ladies. 
Regretting his unmerciful conduct, he 
writes to say he will marry one of the 
ladies. The President considers she 
has first refusal— much to the disgust 
of the remaining seven. 


152 


LADIES 


PLAT8 


HOME PLAYS FOR LADIES. 

Price 40c. each part. 

This series of Plays has been prepared for and entirely composed o4 
Dramas for Female Characters only, and it has been a source of sincere 
pleasure to the Editor to know how much harmless enjoyment has occurred 
from these little works—which have received the sanction of very high religious 
authorities. 


Part I. contains:— 

School for Daughters. Comedy 

in 3 Acts. By D. Lawler. Modern 

Costume. Time, 1 hour. 2 Exterior, 

2 Interior Scenes; 14 Female 

Characters. A pleasing little comedy. 
Mrs. Woodville, a rich widow, takes 
into her home as companion to her 
daughter an unknown wanderer, who 
turns out to be her sister, whom she 
had not seen for twenty years. 

Mrs. Willis’s Will. Described under 
Plays for 5 Females. 

The Duchess of Mansfeldt. Comic 
Drama in 1 Act. German Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 6 
Female Characters. The Duchess of 
Mansfeldt, travelling incog, with her 
maid, arrives at an inn on the 1st of 
May, where great excitement prevail! 
as to who should be Queen. The 
Duchess disguises herself as a peasant 
girl and is mocked at by the others. 
The Duchess discloses herself and 
elects a servant girl as Queen on 
account of her good qualities. 


Part II, contains :— 

Slighted Treasures. Comedy in 1 
Act. By W. Suter. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 4 Female Characters. Anabella 
Hopeful and Arabella Hopeful are 
cousins, and a proposal of marriage to 
one gets sent to the other. 

A Slight Mistake. Comedy in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 30 

mm. 1 Interior Scene; 5 Female 

Characters. Penelope Perfect, land¬ 
lady of a village inn, is rejoiced as she 
imagines she has won a great prize 
in a lottery. The winning number 
is 66, but Penelope afterwards dis¬ 
covery her ticket to be 99, she having 
first read the numbers upside down. 

La Rosiere. Comedy in 1 Act. 
French Costume. Time, 20 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 10 Female Cha ac'ers. 
The . crown of roses is presented to 
Virginie on account of her filial devo¬ 
tion to her mother. 

Who’s to Inherit? Comedy in 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 9 Female Characters. 
A number of the late General 


Annersley’s relations meet in order to 
read a will dividing his property 
amongst them. The General’s son’s 
wife and child are left penniless, but 
another will being forthcoming, the 
whole of the property is left to them. 

Part III. contains 

A Christmas Gambol. Comedy in 

1 Act. Costume. Louis XV., 1720. 

Time, 40 m n. 1 Interior Scene; 7 
Female Characters. Mademoiselle 
D’Orleans, cousin of Louis XV., in¬ 
dulges in a game of “ playing at 
Court ” with her companions ^bo 
each express a wish. Louis XV. 

hears of their wishes and causes them 
to be complied with. 

The Peasant Queen. Comedy in 

2 Acts. By Miss E. H. Keating. Cos¬ 
tume. Louis XV. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 10 Female Characters. 
A dele has been chosen the Peasant 
Queen. She has assisted a fugitive 
in distress, and this action excites 
suspicion against her, as she has been 
bound by oath not to divulge his 
name. He turns out to be the son 
of the Countess de Belleville, who 
elects the queen. 

Gaffer Grey’s Legacy. Comedy in 
2 Acts. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Inferior Scene; 8 Female 
Characters. Gaffer Grey dies, and 
the expectant legatees meet. The 
will creates dissatisfaction amongst 
them, especially when they learn the 
bulk of the property is left to two 
grandchildren. 

Mystery of Muddlewitz. Comedy 
in 2 Acts. Costume. German. Time, 
45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 7 Female 
Characters. Madame Rosendorff and 
Caroline Muller arrive at a village, 
and all the gossips create a great 
mystery about them, which is finally 
dispelled. 

r t 

Part IV. contains :— 

Lina and Gertrude. Drama in 1 
Act. Swiss Costume. Time, 1 hour. 
1 Exterior Scene; 6 Female Charac¬ 
ters, and Peasants. Lina and 
Gertrude are great friends. Gertrude 
is betrothed, but is about to leave 
the village to earn her livelihood, in 
consequence of her lover’s misfortune*. 


LADIES 


PLATS. 


158 


Lady Staunton appears, having met 
with a carriage accident, and Lina 
proves to be her grand-daughter, and 
Gertrude is presented with 1,000 
francs by Lady Staunton. 

A Wonderful Cure. Farce in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 45 

min. 1 Interior Scene; 4 Female 

Characters. Mrs. Dorothy Gaby 
postpones the marriage of her grand¬ 
niece in consequence of the‘lover’s 
dog killing her own. Mrs. Gaby 
being superstitious, Marian Hoaxley, 
the lover’s sister, dresses up as a 
magician and so bamboozles her that 
she alters her former decision. 

My Aunt’s Heiress. Comedy in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 1 

hour 10 min. 11 Female Characters. 
Mrs. John Smith is expecting the r ch 
widow of her husband’s eldest 
brother, who is desirous of selecting 
one of Mrs. . Smith’s seven daughters 
to be her heiress. A poor aunt is also 
expected, and, on her arrival, is 
treated with poor respect with the 
exception of one of the daughters 
named Matilda. The supposed poor 
aunt turns out to be the rich one in 
disguise, and Matilda is chosen to be 
the heiress. 


Part 7 . contains :— 

The Quarrel of the Flowers. A 

Christmas Drama. By Rev. G. S. 
Hodges. B.A. Fancy Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 10 
Female Characters. A simple play 
in rhyme. Nine girls represent 
different flowers, and each dispute be¬ 
fore Father Christmas as to who 
should be queen of the garden. He 
decides that neither one should be 
placed above the rest. 

Choosing; a Bride. Comedy in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene- 6 Female 
Characters. The scene takes place in 
a milliner’s show room. One of the 
apprentices is chosen as the bride of 
a young fellow who is heir to a large 
estate, his mother at first wishing him 
to select a wife of equal position. 

My Daughter’s Daughter. Crmedy 
in 1 Act. Modern Costume. Time, 

50 min. 1 Interior Scene; 5 Fema'e 
Characters. Clara Dashmore w-ishes 
to marry Henry Barnes, to whom she 
is engaged, but her mother favours 
Lord Sillimore, whose family w’shes 
him to marry her for h°r money. 
Lord Sillimore’s mother overhears a 
pretended conversation of Claa’s 

grandmother, who leads her to believe 
that the money Clara was expected 
to have will nearly all go in charities. 
Lord Sillimore soon beats a hasty 
retreat. 


Part VI. contains .*— 

The Governess. Comedy in 1 Act 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. I 
Interior Scene; 3 Female Characters. 
The governess intercepts two love 
letters, intended for her pupils. The 
latter disguise themselves, and eventu¬ 
ally obtain them. 

The Fox and the Grapes. A 

Sketch in 1 Act. Modern Costume. 
Time. 25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 6 
Female Characters. Mrs. Stanley, a 
young widow, is highly indignant 
that she and her sister have not been 
invited to Mrs. Merton’s Ball. Miss 
Merton calls and states their invita¬ 
tions have’ been lost through the 
negligence of a servant and entreats 
them to come. 

Cousin Letty. Comedy in 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 5 Female Charac¬ 
ters. Mrs. Langley and her two 
daughters receive a visit from an 
elderly cousin, Letty, whose brother 
had won a law-suit against them and 
deprived them of some of their 
property. Letty discovers this should 
be theirs, and forthwith restores it to 
them. 

Pride and Vanity. A Comedy in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
mm. 8 Female Characters; 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scene. Mrs. Strickland, in 
order to cure her daughter Emily of 
pride and vanity, adopts a farm girl 
and orders Emily to take her place 
on the farm and intimates she will 
not allow her to return until her 
conduct has totally changed. 


Part VII. contains :— - 

The Heiress. Comedy in 2 Acts. 
By Mary Seymour. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Inferior 
Scene; 5 Female Characters. Ethel 
Atherton comes into property, and her 
lover is cold to her in consequence. 
She takes lodgings in the country, 
and discovers that the landlady’s 
daughter had married her brother 
who died a few years previously. The 
child of this marriage is the real 
heiress, much to the joy of Ethel. 

Only a Jost. Sketch in 1 Act. By 
Mary Seymour. Modern Costume. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Female Characters. Amalia and 
■ri i P . na '. order to discover whether 
Idaba is really in love with Helena’s 
brother, pretend he has been killed 
in battle, on hearing, which Idalia 
faints, and the truth is discovered. 

The Prying: Little Girl. Comedy in 
1 Act. Modern Costume. Time 25 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 6 Female 
Characters. On Lucy’s birthday she 
brings home two friends, and Lucy's 
mother requests them not to touch a 


154 


LADIES’ 


PLAT8 


basket of presents in the room. 
Lncv, being of an inquisitive nature, 
disobeys, and loses a pin. and a men¬ 
dicant is almost arrested for steabne 
it. The presents are then to be sold 
and the money given to the mendi¬ 
cant. 

The Value of Truth. Comedy in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time. 40 

min. 1 Interior Scene: 4 Female 

Characters. A little girl is sent to 
bed for disobeying her mother’s com¬ 
mands. and thpn endeavouring to get 
out of her difficulties by telling false¬ 
hoods. 


Part VIII. contain* 

Friends. Comedy in 2 Acts. By 
Mary Seymour. Modern Costume. 
Time. 35 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 5 
Female Characters. Beata is staying 
with two Quakeresses. Priscilla and 
Dorothy. She is in love with Pris¬ 
cilla’s brother, but she leaves them 
as they have upbraided her for visit¬ 
ing an actress. Six months after they 
seek her and implore her to visit 
their brother to save his life. 

Polly. Comedy in 3 Acts. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 5 Female Characters. 
Marie has been adopted by Lady 
Norricourt. They are visited by 
Jane, a circus girl, who claims Marie 
as her sister. Marie goes back to 
her mother, and refuses to leave her 
in spite of the entreaties of Lady 
Norricourt. 

As You Make Your Bed So You 
Must Lie In It. Sketch in 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time. 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene: 4 Female Characters. 
Same plot as “The Value of Truth,’’ 
described above, be'ng another version 
from the same original. 

A Little Girl Who Tells Fibs. Sketch 
in 1 Act. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 4 Female 
Characters. Rosalie has a habit of 
never speaking the truth. Her 
mother is ruined, and by telling false¬ 
hoods she nearly causes a friend to 
depart who had come to assist them. 


Part IX. contain* 

A Daughter in Law. Comedy in ] 
Act. By Mary Seymour. Modern 
Costume. Time, 10 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 4 Female Characters. Lady 
de Montreville has brought up her 
dead son Gerald’s daughter, Gwen¬ 
doline. Gerald had married beneath 
him, but his wife manages to obtain 
a situation as nu^ to her child at 
Lady de Montreville’s, and only dis¬ 
closes ‘herself when Gwendoline meets 
with an accident. Sb» in then re¬ 
ceived by Lady de Montreville as her 
daughter-in-law. 

Ten Years Hence. Comedy in 2 Acts. 

Bv Marv Seymour. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time 25 min. 1 Interior and 
1 Exterior Scene; 5 Female Charac¬ 
ters. Three school friends prophesy 
what their lives will be ten years 
hence. After this time has elapsed, 
they meet again, and not one of their 
predictions has been realised. 

Caroline and Henrietta. Comedy 
in 1 Act. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 10 Female 
Characters. Mrs. Somerford has her 
daughter Henrietta and niece Caroline 
at school, and during a prize com¬ 
petition Henrietta copies Caroline’s 
composition and tries to cause the 
mistress to believe that Caroline has 
copied hers. The truth is dis¬ 
covered, and Caroline wins the prize. 

The Two Sisters. Comedy in 1 Act. 

.Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. J 
Exterior Scene; 4 Female Charac¬ 
ters. Ellen and Lucy are s sters, 
and Ellen is angry with Lucy because 
she pays more attention to a dove 
than to her and will not lend her 
money to her. Ellen hides the dove, 
but repents when she finds out that 
Lucy had spent her money on a doll 
for her, which she much wanted. 


Part X. contain* 

Fair Encounter. See Index. 
Petticoat Perfidy. See Index. 
Fast Friends. See Index. 

Narrow Escape. See Index. 


MALE CHARACTER PLATS 


155 


MALE CHARACTER PLAYS. 


ONE MALE. 


Up to Town and Back Ag-ain. By 

Mr. Rayner. This is an entertain¬ 
ment comprising a variety of tales, 
anecdotes, recitations, oddities, whims, 
and eccentric portraitures from 


nature. There are some capital comic 
songs in it. The whole w-ill be 
found very amusing. 

(See also the Monologue Series). 


TWO MALES. 


Hugger Mugger. (Farce.) 1 Act. 
By H. Saville Clarke. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians. Hugger 
lodges in the same room with Mugger, 
and they both try to swindle each other. 
They resolve to go into partnership, 
‘and rob each other of their handker¬ 
chiefs while sealing the compact. 

Mixed Addresses. (Farce.) 1 Aot. 
By Sydney Fane. Modern Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Walking Gentlemen. Jack Sullivan 
and John Parsons, who live together, 
are both in love with two cousins of 
the same name and initials, viz., M. 
Palmer, one of whom v/as staying at 
the other’s house. The two young men 
•end them love letters, but in each 
case they are opened by the wrong 
party. 

No. 1 Round the Corner. (Farce.) 
1 Aet. By William Brough. Modern 
Costume. Time, 29 min. 1 Room 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 1 Low 
Comedian. Flipper is expecting his 
uncle with his usual quarterly allow¬ 
ance but receives a letter to say he 
has been called away, and the money 
will not arrive for two days. His 
fellow lodger. Nobbier, an impecunious 
individual, has advertised for a secre¬ 
tary who will deposit .£20 security, and 
Flipper is about to seek the situation. 
Flipper m'stakes Nobbler’s coat for his 
uncle’s and pawns it, and Nobbier 
pawns Flipper’s boots in return. 
Flipper discovers Nobbler’s swindle, 
and the delay in receiving the money 
saves him £20. 

Old Cronies. (Comedy.) 1 Act. By 
S. Theyre Smith. Is. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 25 min. 1 Interior 
Scene: 2 Comedians. One of the best 
duologues ever written. Dr. Jacks, an 
old-fashioned student, and Captain 
Pidgeon, a bluff old sea officer, are old 
cronies. The latter calls upon the 
former and confides in him that he 
has fallen in love. A question arises 
as to how the proposal is tio be sent, 
and a most amusing scene is enacted 
over the writing of a letter to the lady, 
offering her marriage. This, however, 
fails, and they resolve to send a pre¬ 
paid telegram. The answer arrives to 
the effect that she has already 
accepted another suitor, whereupon the 


two shake hands and resolve to stick 
to single blessedness, and remain 
“ Old Cronies. 

P.U.P. (Farce.) 1 Act. By Hugh 
Moss. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian. A funny 
scene enacted between Mr. Samuel 
Skinner and his clerk, Harry Hyde. 
The latter has secretly got married, 
and his wife is sending him the baby 
in a hamper to take care of, and this 
and another hamper get mixed. 

Sample versus Pattern.. (Farce.) 
1 Act. By W. Sapte, jun. Modern 
Costume. Time, 15 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians. Sample 
and Pattern are two commercial 
travellers, both making love to the 
same young lady, A quarrel takes 
place, but they discover the lady in 
question prefers another suitor. 

Senior Wranglers. 1 Act. By E. H. 
Whitmore. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Old Men. 
S:F Thomas Billiter calls on Major- 
General Ramrod to complain of the 
noise occasioned by his daughter’s 
pianoforte playing. He, however, dis¬ 
covers she is the young lady with 
whom he has had constant flirtations 
on the beach, and ends by asking her 
hand in marriage. 

Two Blinds. (Operetta.) By A. 

Clements. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Low 
Comedians. A dialogue between two 
itinerant beggars who meet each other. 
They both pretend to be blind, but 
are enabled to see when a copper m 
thrown to them. 

Two Gents in a Fix. (Farce.) 1 Act. 
By W. E. Suter. Modern Costume. 
Time, 24 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old 
Man; 1 Eccentric Comedian. A »• 

altercation occurs between two gentle¬ 
men at a railway station who have just 
missed the train. After a smart 
dialogue the old gentleman discovers 
in the other his intended son-in-lav/. 

Two in the Morning:. (Farce.) 1 
Act. By Charles Mathews. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 riin. Scene, A 
Bachelor’s Bed-room; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian. Mr. New¬ 
penny, is awakened at two in th« 


150 


MALE CHARACTER PLATS* 


morning by a stranger knocking at 
the door opposite who cannot get in. 
Mr. Newpenny, to obtain quietude, 
invites him to his own r.iom, which 
makes matters •worse, as the stranger 
will not allow him a minute’s peace, 
and relates nis whole history to him. 
It transpires that the stranger has 
married the lady Newpenny was 
formerly engaged to, and this lady had 
taken apartments the day previously in 
the floor below. 

Two Pro’s. Farce. (Musical.) 1 Act 
By F. Bowyer. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Low Comedians. An acrobat and a 
street singer are both in love with the 


same girl and meet. After quarrelling 
they discover the girl has gone off with 
a third lover. 

Unwarrantable Intrusion.. (Farce.) 
1 Act. By J. M. Morton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 45 min. Drawing¬ 
room Scene; 2 Low Comedians. Mr. 
Nathaniel Snoozle has refused the 
hand of his niece to Mr. John Johnson, 
jun., an individual he has not seen. 
He is visited by an intruder who 
behaves in such an extraordinary 
manner that Snoozle writes a letter te 
Johnson giving his consent and 
£10,000 if he will come and kick the 
intruder out of the house. The in¬ 
truder happens to be Johnson himself. 


THREE MALES. 


Burglar and the Judge. (Farce.) 
1 Act. By Phillips and Brookfield. 
Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 2 Low 
Comedians. A burglar, having 
entered Mr. Justice Gyves’s house, has 
a very amusing scene with the Judge 
who had previously sentenced him to 
various terms of imprisonment. The 
burglar takes a mild revenge, much to 
the judge’s discomfiture. 

Christmas Eve in a Watchhouso. 

Farce. 1 Act. By C. S. Cheltnam. 
Costume, Period 1820. Time, 35 
min. 1 Cell Scene; 3 Low Comedians. 
The plot is the same as “The Two Gay 
Deceivers” described below, both being 
taken from the same original. 

Cox and Box. Operetta. 1 Act. By 
Morton. Burnand, and Sullivan. 
Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Interior scene. A musical version of 
Box and Cox. See Index. Instead of 
Mrs. Bouncer the character is made 
Sergeant Bouncer. 

Dinner for Two. Farce. 1 Act. By 
R. C. Carton. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Comedians; 1 Low Comedian. Stapyl- 
ton Kidbrook, stopping at an hotel, is 
preparing to give a dinner to a lady 
he has casually met. A military friend. 
Major Powneby, arrives from abroad, 
and Kidbrook’s resources are taxed to 
the extreme in order to rid himself of 
the military man. Even still more so 
when it is discovered the unknown 
lady is the Major’s wife. 

Fast Train. Farce. 1 Act. Modern 
Costume. Time. 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Low Comedians; I Light 
Comedian. A Yankee, named Col. 
Jack Delaware, calls at Griffin’s ware¬ 
house at four in the morning, wakes 
h ; m up and sets the whole place in a 
turmoil. _ He demands Griffin’s 
daughter in marriage, but on seeing 
her finds he has made a mistake, and 
then proposes for the hand of Griffin'* 
sister. 


Guy Faux. Burlesque Sketch. 1 Act. 
Exaggerated Costume of the Time. 
Time, 10 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low 
Comedians. Written in verse. Guy 
Faux is surprised by Tom Nab’em and 
Jack Hill, end is marched off to 
prison. It is nublished in Part 4 of 
“The Comic Reciter,” 6d. 

Left the Stage. Farce. 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 3 Low Comedians. An 
actor wishing to leave the stage, his 
two friends play various pranks on 
him in order to make him return. 

Mademoiselle Squallino. Farce. 

1 Act. By J. L. Featherstone. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Light Comedians; 1 Low 
Comedian. Two friends fall in love 
with Mademoiselle Squallino, an 
opera singer. A quarrel ensues, which 
is finally settled by the servant con¬ 
vincing them that a lady is not 
worthy of their admiration. 

Maria Farce. 1 Act. By John 
Meiglan. Modern Costume. Time 
2° min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 

1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Low Come- 
dian. Joseph Judkins and his nephew 
both become engaged to Maria 
Spnggleton. They begin to quarrel 
about her when they receive a letter 
from her, stating she is about to marry 
someone else. She, however, keeps 
their presents and promises to send 
them some wedding cake. 

More Free than Welcome. 1 Act 

Farce. By W. E. Suter. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Comedian; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians. A gentleman and his servant, 
who are both very lazy, have forced 
upon them a young gentleman, and 
the scene which ensues is most 
comical. 


Night on Snowdon. l Act. By 
Herbert Gardner. Modern Costume. 
J 1 , 1 ? 6 ’,?® min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 1 Light Comedian; 1 
Frenchman. Roderick Rattleton and 
M. Boun are forced to occupy the same 
room at an inn at Snowdon. They 


If ALE CHARACTER PLATS 


157 


quarrel, and propose a game of cards 
as to which should throw himself 
down the precipice. Boun is a som- 
nambulst, and falling asleep Battle- 
ton paints him up, and gives him the 
appearance of having fallen down the 
mountain. Their differences are after¬ 
wards made up. 

Sent to the Tower. Farce. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. Costume. Period 
William III. Time, 40 min. 1 In¬ 
terior of a Prison Scene; 3 Low 
Comedians; Tom Burchell in order to 
marry Abigail causes her guardian and 
another admirer to be seized and 
detained in a deserted wing in his 
house. They think they are imprisoned 
in the Tower. Tom marries Abigail 
before he releases them. 

Supper for Two. Farce. 1 Act. By 
J. Wear Gifford. Old Pashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Low Comedians. Thomas 
Quilldriver, a lawyer, is staying at an 
inn for the assizes. Lieutenant 
Horatio Blazer, of the Blankshire 
Yeomanry, arrives, and as his new 
Colonel swears he will not have any 
one in the mess who has not fought a 
duel, he resolves to fight the lawyer. 
Quilldriver secretly tells the waiter to 
o for a magistrate to arrest Horatio, 
ut the waiter disguises as the magis¬ 
trate instead, and vows he will see 
honour satisfied; they both display 
cowardice, and as they will not fight, 
the waiter manages to get £5 out of 
one, and fines the other a similar 
amount. The trick is discovered, and 
the money demanded back again; 
Quilldriver and Horatio concluding by 
ordering “Supper for Two.” 


Sylvester Daggcrwood. Farce. 1 
Act. By Geo. Colman, jun. Old 

Fashioned Costume. Time, 10 min. 

1 Interior Scene; 1 Tragedian; 1 

Comedian; 1 Utility. A dramatist and 
an actor are waiting to see a manager, 
and the dramatist proceeds to read his 
tragedy to the actor. The remarks of 
the latter are very quaint. 

Taming: a Tigrer. Farce. 1 Act. 

Modern Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 
Inter or Scene- 1 Old Man; 1 Light 
Comedian; 1 Low Comedian. This is 
the same as “Twenty minutes with a 
Tiger,” with the female parts omitted. 
See Index. 

Two Gay Deceivers. Farce. 1 Act. 
By T. W. Robertson and T. H. Lacy. 
Modern Costume. Time, 20 min. 
Room in a Prison: 3 Low Comedians. 
Two gay deceivers get locked up 
together, and circumstances arise 
which make them both believe they 
are paying their addresses to each 
other’s wives, but find they are mis¬ 
taken. 

Very Pleasant Evening:. Farce. 1 
Act. By W. E. Suter. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Light Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian. A young 
gentleman and a young rustic enter a 
gentleman’s house, the former after his 
daughter and the latter his domestic. 
The manner in which the old gentle¬ 
man is almost frightened out of his 
wits, and the way they gain their ends, 
is most amusing. 


FOUR MALES 


D’ye Know Me Now? Farce. 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 2 
Interior Scenes; 2 Low Comedians; 1 
Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; and 
supers. A commercial traveller, 
unable to obtain an order from a 
crusty old gentleman, resolves to have 
revenge. The old gentleman, over¬ 
hearing the plot, is enabled to turn 
the tables on him. 


Keeley Worried by Buckstone. 

Farce. 1 Act. By Mark Lemon and 
B. Webster. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Low 
Comedians; 1 Walking Gentleman. 
This has a similar plot to “Left the 
Stage,” just described. 


FIVE MALES. 


Furnished Apartments. Farce. 1 
Act. By F. Hay. Modern Costume. 
Time, 36 min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Old Man; 2 Low Comedians; 2 Walk¬ 


ing Gentleman. A doctor lets his 
apartments to one party, and his 
assistant to another. The two lodgers 
meet and a comical scene ensues. 


SIX MALES. 


Pyramus and Thisbe. This is 

selected from Shakespeare’s “Mid- 
pnrrirpor Uio-ht’s Dream.” and pub- 
in Part 5 of “ The Comic 
Reciter,” 6d. It is divided into two 


parts—the Meeting of the Company, 
and the Rehearsal of the Tragedy. It 
would suit admirably for a boys' 
school. 


158 


MALE CHARACTER PLAYi. 


SEVEN MALES. 

Rival Pagfes. See Index. Although the piece, it might be classed amongst 

this play is for 5 Males and 2 Females, the male character pieces, 

the latter being in male attire during 


TEN MALES. 


All at C. A burlesque sketch, written 
on board H.M.S. “Tamar” before the 
troops landed at Cape Coast Castle 
en route to Coomassie. 

Cast, King- of Granada. See under 

“Military Plays." 

Rrce for a Dinner. Farce. 1 Act. 

By T. G. Rodwell. Old Fashioned 
Costume. Time. 50 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Light Comedian; 2 Old Men; 
3 Comedians; 4 Utility. This is a 
sort of “Jeremy Diddler” farce, and 
describes the many fruitless attempts 


ELEVEN 

End of the Tether. Drama. 2 Acts. 
Pv G. C. Baddeley. Modern Costume. 
Time. 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 4 Walking Gentlemen; 2 
Low Comedians; 2 Utility. Smyle, a 
swindling promoter of Companies, has 
obtained £300 on false pretences from 
Gearing, a poor inventor. He is also 
desirous of obtaining possession of 
£5,000 paid into a bank on account of 


of a hungry man to obtain a dinner. 

He makes several appointments for 
other days of the week, but is unable 
to obtain a dinner at the present 
moment. 

Roman Actor. Dramatic Scene. 1 
Act. Compressed from Massinger’s 
play. Roman Costume. Time, 15 min. 
2 Interior Scenes. A short scene 
written in blank verse, and would be 
found useful for elocutionary pur¬ 
poses. 


MALES. 

a company by two foolish aristocrats, 
and hr.' arranged for an escaped forger 
to attend and forge the necessary 
signatures to the cheque. Jukes, a 
detective, overhears his plan and 
imnersonating _ the expected forger, 
obtains Gearing’s £300 back and 
arrests Smyle and frustrates his 
scheme. 


CHAPEL ROYAL, SAVOY CHOIR 
ENTERTAINMENTS. 


15c. each. 


These are a series of entertainments which have been given at the Chapel 
Royal, Savoy, and can be highly recom mended in boys’ schools for the singing 
classes. Any number of boys can be introduced for the chorus. The music 
can be had m hire. 


Dr. Barlow. Extravaganza in 1 Act. 
By W. Leighway. Modern Costume. 
Time. 40 min. 1 Interior Scene. 12 
Male Characters. At Dr. Barlow’s 
academy the doctor is made to assume 
the part of one of the boys, whilst 
Harry Sandford, putting on his wig 
and f own impersonates the master. 

Of IV ,ble Birth. Opera Bouffe in 1 
Act. By W. Heighway. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 3 Male and 1 Female Charac¬ 
ters. Mr. Samuel Piealili wishes his 
daughter to marry Cha'wford Bacon, 
but she is in love with Hannibal Bil- 
kins. who proves to be of noble birth 
*nd fo: tune. 


Pills of Wisdom. Extravaganza in 1 
Act. By W. Heighway. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 

Scene; 13 Male Characters. Professor 
Pillmaker administers a lot of pills to 
the scholars in a school to make them 
■wise. They are not a success, and the 
examiners depart in anger. 

School Bored. < Extravaganza in 1 
Act. By W. Heighway. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 20 min. 1 Interior 

Scene; 15 Male Characters. An in¬ 
spector examines the boys at a school, 
but admits that he has not any educ*- 
tion himself. 


1LAlil CH AH ACT Bit PLATS 


159 


Ten Tortured Tutors. Extravaganza 
in 1 Act. By W. Heighway. Modern 
Costume. Time. 20 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 10 Male Characters. The boys* 


at a school overpower their master and 
advertise for another tutor, and they 
proceed to examine the applicants. 


COMIC DRAMAS FOR COLLEGE, CAMP, 

AND CABIN. 


Consisting of pieces without Female 
'Part I. contains :— 

A Spanking- Legacy. Farce. 1 Act. 
By F. G-. Blake. Corsican Costume, 
about 1800. Time, 35 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Low Comedian; 

3 Comedians. This is another version 
of “ A Thumping Legacy ” without the 
lady’s character. See Index. 
Furnished Apartments. See Index. 

Spectre Bridegroom. Farce. 1 

Act. By W. T. Moncrieff. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Comedian; 1 Old Man; 1 
Walking Gentleman; 3 Low Come¬ 
dians. See Index. 

Illustrious Stranger. Farce. 1 Act. 
By Kenney and Milligen. Eastern 
Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior, 
3 Exterior Scenes; 1 Old Man; 1 
Comedian; 3 Low Comedians; 3 
Utility. See Index. 

Martyr to Science. Farce. 1 Act. 
By F. Weston. Modern Costume. 
Time. 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Old Men; 2 Comedians. Mr. Tweezer 
is visited by Mr. Kattleton, lecturer on 
magnetico photographico, who mes¬ 
merises both Tweezer and a swindling 
lawyer, much to the benefit of Tweezer 
and Rattleton himself, the former 
being prevented from investing his 
money in a questionable mortgage, 
and the latter discovering he has come 
into a fortune. 

Part II. contains:— 

The Smoked Miser. Farce. 1 Act. 
By Douglas Jerrold. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 
Low Comedians; 1 Utility. See Index. 

The Sleeping Draught. Farce. 1 

Act. By S. Penley. Italian Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Exterior. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Comedian; 2 
Low Comedians; 3 Utility. See Index. 

Cherry Bounce. Farce. 1 Act. By 
R. J. Raymond. Modern Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior Scene: 4 Old 
Men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility. 
See Index. 

All at Coventry. Farce. 1 Act. By 

W. F. Moncrieff. Old-fashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 1 hour. 2 Interior 


Characters, Price 40c. each part. 

Scenes; 2 Old Men; 2 Low Come¬ 
dians; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 3 
Utility. A lengthy but hum hour 
farce already described. See Index. 

Part III. contains :— 

Make your Wills. Farce. 1 Act. By 
Mayhew and Smith. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Old Men; 2 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 1 Low Comedian; 1 Utility. See 
Index. 

The Review. Farce. 1 Act. 3y G. 
Colman, Junr. Old-fashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 45 min. 1 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Old Man; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 3 Low Comedians; 3 Utility. 
See Index. 

Fortune’s Frolic. Farce. 1 Act. By 
J. T. Allingham. Old-fashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 3 Interior, 2 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Old Men: 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Low Comedian; 3 Utility: 1 
Old Woman (played by a male). See 
Index. 

D’ye Know Me Now? See Index. 

Babes in the Wood. Burlesque. 1 
Act. Fancy Costume. Time, 20 min. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Fe¬ 
males (played by Males); 5 Male 
Characters. A simple easy version of 
the fairy story. 

Part IV. contains: — 

Poisoned. Farce. 1 Act. By V. 
Amcotts. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Old Woman (to be 
played by a male). Mavins is terribly 
frightened because he thinks he has 
taken poison. He rejoices to find that 
the poison had previously been upset 
and the bottle filled up with water. 

Box of Mischief. Farce. 1 Act. By 
S. Peake. Old-fashioned Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 4 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 1 Old Man; 3 Walking 
Gentlemen; 1 Low Comedian; 5 
Utility; 2 Female parts (to be played 
by males). A lover about to depart for 
Demerara, bribes a domestic to get a 
young lady he is in love with con¬ 
cealed in a trunk, intending to ship it 
on board his vessel. Another lover re¬ 
leases her and substitutes a large d^-ad 


160 


MALE CHARACTER PLAYS 


dog. In turn the dead dog is ex¬ 
changed for a nigger who is discovered 
when the trunk is opened on board. 

Jack of All Trades. Farce. 1 Act. 
Old-fashioned Costume. Time. 35 min. 
1 Old Man; 2 Walking Gentlemen; 1 
Low Comedian; 2 Utility. An abbre¬ 
viated version of “ The Weathercock.” 
See Index. 

Sudden Arrival. Farce. 1 Act. By 
F. Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Old Man; 4 
Walking Gentlemen; 2 Utility. An 
uncle who imagines his nephew is 
studying deeply, suddenly arrives. The 
nephew is entertaining some fast 
friends. They try to deceive the uncle, 
but get found out, the nephew lastly 
being forgiven. 

Part V. contains :— 

Look Before You Leap. Comic 
Drama. 1 Act. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Old Men; 2 Comedians; 1 
Utility. A miser receives a letter to 
say he has come into £7,000 if he can 
prove he has not any property. He 
immediately gives everything he has 
to a poor boy he has living with him, 
and whom he has nearly starved. It 
transpires that the £7,000 is left to this 
boy, and not to the miser. 


Settling the Verdict. Farce in 1 

Act. Modern Costume. Time, 35 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 8 Walking Gentle¬ 
men; 2 Low Comedians; 4 Utility. 
A jury retire to consider their verdict 
in deciding whether Mary Griggs stole 
some rabbits. The foreman of the 
jury is inclined to find her guilty, but 
learning from a letter he receives that 
Mary is the daughter of a former ac¬ 
quaintance of his, he induces the rest 
of the jury to decide in the girl’s 
favour. 

Count and the Secretary. Comedy 
in 1 Act. French Costume, 1780. Time, 
50 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 3 Old 
Men; 1 Utility. Count de Melcy ar¬ 
rives on his property, and is mistaken 
by his tenants for his secretary. He 
receives the bribes intended for his 
secretary, whom he finds out to be a 
rogue. He causes two lovers to be 
united, and decides about the better 
management of his affairs in future. 

Part VI, contains: — 

P.U.P. See Index. 

Mademoiselle Squallino. See In¬ 
dex. 

Night on Snowdon. See Index. 

Supper for Two. See Index. 


SERIO-COMIC DRAMAS FOR MALE 
CHARACTERS. 

Price 40c. each part. 


Part I. contains 

Joseph in Egypt. Sacred Drama in 
1 Act. By T. Holcroft. Egyptian 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 6 Male Characters. Follows 
the Bible story, and describes the 
meeting of Joseph and his brethren. 

The Harvest Storm. Domestic 
Drama in 1 Act. By C. Hazlewood. 
Modern Costume. Time. 35 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 9 Male Characters. See 
Index. 

The Cross of St. John’s. Drama in 
3 Acts. By W. T. Lucas. Flemish 
Costume. 1535, Time, 1 hour. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 14 Male Characters. 
Theodore Manville entices Simeon 
Merx to rob the latter’s father to pav 
their gambling debts. They accomplish 
this by means of a false key, and an 
innocent youth gets tried for the theft. 
The cross of St. John’s on the top of 
» steeple gets struck by lightning at 
the close of the trial, and falls on Theo¬ 
dore. who is mortally injured and con¬ 
fesses before he dies. 


The Blind Boy. Melodrama in 3 Acts. 

By James Kenney. Polish Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 2 Interior. 1 Exterior 
Scenes. 9 Males and 1 Female Charac¬ 
ter (the latter can be assumed bv a 
male). The Queen of Sarmatia secretly 
changes her child (as it was born 
blind), and brings up Rudolph as her 
own. Rudolph is about to be married 
when a b! nd boy living with a farmer 
is discovered to be the real heir. 
Rudolph endeavours to kill him, but 
fails. 

Part II. contains:— 

The Test of Truth. Comedy iu 2 
Acts. Costume. George II. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene. 11 Ma’e 
Characters. See Index. 

Two Brothers. Drama in 1 Act. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 1 
Interior Scene. 4 Male Cha’ac+ers. 
Two brothers. Bill, a glazier, and Bob 
a gardener, living togelher. find them¬ 
selves very hard up. Bill obtains work 
and Bob finds a bag with £50 in it 
which he wishes to keep, but Bill oh- 


MALE CHARACTER PLATS, 


161 


jects. They quarrel, and learning to 
whom the money belongs, Bob’s better 
nature prevails and he restores it, and 
as a reward obtains a situation. 
Grandfather’s Story. Drama in 1 
Act. Modern Costume. Time, 30 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 5 Male Characters. 
An old man who had been struck 
blind maintains he has £50, but can¬ 
not remember where it is. It is after¬ 
wards discovered in an old violin which 


he had in his hand when the lightning 
struck him. 

The Brigand and His Son. Mtlo 

drama in 1 Act. Italian Costume. 
Time, 20 min. 5 Male Characters. A 
son betrays a fellow brigand, and his 
father is about to kill him, when the 
son’s bravery rescues the betrayed bri¬ 
gand, the father declaring that the 
stain of a traitor has been wiped out. 


DRAMAS FOR BOYS. 


Sold in One Volume at 40c., and contains the following: — 


The Plot of Potzentausend. 

Comic Drama in 1 Act. Costume, 
Reign of Louis XIV. Time. 35 min. 
1 Interior Scene; 10 Male Characters. 
The Chevalier d’Espion arranges a 
meeting at a miller’s house, and mis¬ 
takes four young peasant lovers whom 
he meets for his fellow conspirators. 
Soldiers arrive to arrest them, but are 
satisfied that the lovers are innocent. 

Incog-. Farce in 1 Act. Costume, 
Reign of Louis XV. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 7 Male Characters. 
The heir of Courville is expected to ar¬ 
rive incog., and Marcel, a clerk, is 
mistaken for him. The real heir then 
appears. 

the Poor Relation. Comic Drama 
in 2 Acts. Modern Costume. Time, 30 
1 Interior Scene; 7 Male Char¬ 


acters. Mr. Downright retires and 
leaves his business to his thr< e 
cousins, and requests them to take 
care of a poor relation. The cousin 
who at first appears to be the least 
likely to do so afterwards proves to 
be the only one of the three wno com¬ 
plies with Mr. Downright’s wishes. 

The Talisman. Drama in 1 Act. 
French Costume, 1750. Time, 30 min. 
1 Exterior Scene; 7 Male Characlers. 
Prince Florimond, who is living a reck¬ 
less life, is visited by the Spirit of the 
Wood, who gives him a talisman in the 
shape of four flowers, and he will learn 
the truth from any person upon whom 
he bestows them. He causes them tq 
be worn by a peasant, and three of nis 
friends, and seeing himself shown in 
his true colours, resolves to reform. 


162 


MILITARY PLAT8. 

MILITARY PLAYS. 


An Affair of Honour. Farce. 1 Act. 

By W. L. Rede. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 
Males; 2 Females. A capital farce. 
Two rival officers are in treaty for the 
hand of a young widow. They rran- 
not fight, as they have given their 
word to the Colonel to abstain from 
duelling. Dr. Clements, in the mean¬ 
time, marries the widow, unbeknown 
to the officers, and to settle their dis¬ 
pute the doctor introduces two piPs, 
one supposed to be poisonous and the 
other not. They take the pills, the 
doctor introduces his wife, and they 
learn the pills are harmless. 

Angel of the Attic. See Index. 

Bold Dragoons. Comic Drama. 2 
Acts. By Morris Barnett. German 
Costume. _ 2 Scenes, Exterior of an Inn 
and Antique Room; 7. Males; 3 
Females. A dragoon, having by acci¬ 
dent exchanged haversacks, assumes 
the character of the owner. The latter 
arrives and gets arrested as an impos¬ 
tor by his own father. 


Bould Soger Boy. Farce, 1 Act. 
By E. Stirling. Time, 50 min. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 7 Males; 2 Females. 
Sir George Dashwood has-promised his 
daughter’s hand in marriage to Mr. 
Prettyman, one of the conditions being 
that he should become a soldier. The 
daughter has another lover, who gets 
a warm reception, but wins the lady. 

Brewer of Preston. Comic Drama. 
1 Act. By T. H. Reynoldson. t Cos¬ 
tume, period 1745. Time, 50 min. 2 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 7 Males; 

1 Female. Daniel Robinson, a brewer, 
and a man of extreme timidity, bears 
a remarkable likeness to his brother, 
who is a lieutenant in the army, and 
through unforeseen circumstances he is 
bound to impersonate the soldier.. He 
orospers in spite of himself,, and is ap¬ 
pointed to a high command in Ireland. 

Brigand. Musical Romantic Drama. 

2 Acts. By J. R. Planche. Italian 
and Austrian Costumes. . Time, 1£ 
hour 4 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 
13 Males; 2 Females; and any number 
of supernumeraries. The famous bri¬ 
gand, Massaroni, enters the palace of 
Prince Bianchi. governor of Rome, is 
recognised, and in endeavouring to 
escape is shot by order of the prince, 
who discovers the brigand to be his 
own son. 

British Born. Drama. Prologue and 

3 Acts. By P. Meritt and H. Pettitt. 
Modern Costume. Time, 2 hours 30 
min. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 13 
Males; 2 Females. George Seymour 


and Mary Hope are lovers. Mary is 
also beloved by a scoundrel named 
Laban Brood, who is Seymour’s master. 
Brood falsely accuses Seymour of theft, 
but is unsuccessful. He then follows 
the lovers to South America, and after 
getting them in his power is shot. 
Before dying he confesses, and the 
lovers are left free. 

Camp at Chobham. Farce. 1 Act. 
By Mark Lemon. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scenes; 7 Males; 1 Female. An officer 
obtains the consent of an irascible old 
uncle (a member of the Peace Society, 
and hater of military men), to a mar¬ 
riage with his niece. 

Caotain of the Watch. Farce. 1 
Act. By J. R. Planche. Be'gian 
Costume, 17th century. Time, 1 hour. 
2 Scenes: 1 Garden and 1 Saloon; 4 
Males; 2 Females. Two lovers are 
united through the Captain of the 
Watch, who is mistaken by the uncle 
of the young lady for the lover. The 
Captain gets the uncle in his power, 
and compels him to consent to the 
union. 

Cast, King of Granada. Historical 

Extravaganza. By Col. Colomb. 3 In¬ 
terior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 6 Males; 4 
Females. This was written for the 
garrison at Gibraltar, and is a bur¬ 
lesque scene supposed to take place »t 
the “ Court of Lions.” 

Catching an Heiress. Farce. 1 
Act. By C. Selby. Modern Military 
Costume. Time, 1 hour. 5 Interior 
Scenes; 5 Males; 2 Females. A lady 
and her maid dress up in male attire 
in order to escape the attentions of 
two officers who persist in following 
the lady, who, however, finally consents 
to accept one of the officers. 

Child of the Regiment. Musical 
Comedy. 2 Acts. Bv J. B. Buckstone. 
Time, 2 hours. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scenes; 11 Males; 3 Females. Jose¬ 
phine, a vivandiere, is the adopted 
child of a French regiment, and is be¬ 
loved by Guillot, a peasant, who enlists 
for her sake. Josephine is discovered 
to be the daughter of the Marquis de 
Berkenfeldt, is taken into society, and 
betrothed to a duke. She at last 
marries her soldier lover, her mothpl 
confessing that her father, the duke, 
was originally a soldier in the ranks. 

r f 

Dominique the Deserter. Comic 

Drama. 2 Acts. By W. H. Murray. 
French Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 
4 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 9 Males; 

4 Females. Chevalier Duverne, flying 
from an encounter with Col. de Lache, 
a favourite of Cardinal Richelieu, 
seeks shelter in the garret whsrs 


MILITARY 


PLATS 


163 


Dcminique, a deserter, is hiding. 
Duverne changes clothes with Do¬ 
minique, and the latter falls into the 
power of Col. de Lache and is im¬ 
prisoned, when Duverne interposes 
and he is released. 

His Last Victory. Drama. 2 Acts. 

By Watts Phillips. French Costume. 
Time. 1 hour 30 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 
12 Males; 9 Females. Countess Beau¬ 
regard is in love with Felicien Doucet, 
and in order to make him declare him¬ 
self. pretends to fall in love with his 
uncle. Before her desires are accom¬ 
plished this uncle*has to fight a duel 
for her reputation, and the lovers are 
then united. 

Lancers. Drama. 3 Acts. By Capt. 

Leicester Vernon, M.P. French Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 1 Ex¬ 
terior, 2 Interior Scenes; 7 Males: 4 
Females. Another version of this play 
was recently acted in London under 
the title of “ The Queen’s Shilling.” 
Victor de Courcy, the son of a banker, 
having quarrelled with his father, en¬ 
lists in the Lancers under the name of 
Jolicoeur. He is arrested for non-ap¬ 
pearance at parade, but manages to at¬ 
tend a ball, and cross swords with his 
colonel, who does not know nim per¬ 
sonally. He is about to be tried by 
court-martial, but his discharge hap¬ 
pens to have been signed before he 
committed his offence. 

Lion at Bay. Drama. 1 Act. By 
Watts Phillips. French Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 5 
Males; 2 Females. Simon Bernard, a 
veteran of the Old Guard, is about to 
shoot himself in order that his son may 
become exempt from military service, 
as it would thus make him the only 
son of a widow, when he receives the 
Cross of Honour from the Minister of 
War, with 3.000 francs, with which he 
is enabled to purchase his release. 

Little Sentinel. See Index. 

Louis XI. Drama. 3 Acts. By W. R. 
Markwell. French Costume, of the 
Period. Time. 2£ hours. 2 Exterior, 
4 Interior Scenes; 14 Males; 3 
Females. The Duke de Nemours, 
whose father was executed by order cA 
Louis XI.. seeks to avenge his father’s 
death. Louis XI. has him arrested, 
but Nemours obtaining a private in¬ 
terview with him. has him in his 
power, but spares him, telling him his 
revenge will be better achieved by let¬ 
ting him live. Nemours is afterwards 
led to the scaffold, when the King on 
his death-bed pardons him. 

Midnight Watch. Drama. 1 Act. 
By J. M. Morton. French Costume, 
Period 1795. Time, 1 hour. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 8 Males; 2 Females. Pauline, 
having secretly married, is imprisoned 
for causing her husband to escape. 


Her father happens to be chosen as 
sentinel for the midnight watch, but 
Pauline’s husband, who is disguised as 
a soldier and is unknown to the 
father, drugs him and plans Pauline’s 
escape, which fails, but the downfall 
of Robespierre procures her release. 

My Soldier Boy. See Index. Comedy 
Farce. 3 Acts. By Alfred Maltby and 
Frank Lindo. Time, 2£ hours. See 
under plays for 6 Males; 4 Females. 


Post of Honour. Comic Drama. 1 
Act. By x. Mildenhall. Costume, 
1760. Time, 1 hour. 2 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene; 9 Males; 2 Females. 
A burgomaster is about to betray his 
town into the hands of the enemy, and 

~ his daughter’s lover, whom he has 
rejected, unexpectedly receives the 
reward for the burgomaster's 
treachery, and is enabled to defeat his 
scheme, retain the money, and obtain 
the hand of the daughter. 

Prisoner of War. Comedy. 2 Acts. 
By Douglas Jerrold. Costume, 1805. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 5 Interior, 2 
Exterior Scenes; 12 Males; 5 
Females; and any number of supers. 
Clarina Channel has been secretly 
married to St. Basil Firebrace unbe¬ 
known to her father, who desired her 
to marry Beaver, a merchant. Beaver 
proving himself a scoundrel, the father 
is happily reconciled to his son-in-law. 

Sergeant’s Wedding. Comic Drama. 
1 Act. By T. E. Wilkes. Prussian 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 5 Males; 3 
Females. The King of Prussia meet¬ 
ing a pretty peasant girl, gives her a 
letter to his General telling him to 
marry her to Sergeant Orloff. The girl, 
not knowing its contents, gives the 
letter to her grandmother to deliver. 
A most amusing scene ensues, and a 
satisfactory meeting takes place 
between the girl and Sergeant Orloff, 
who was her old lover, whom she 
thought dead. 

Sergeant’s Wife. Drama. 2 Acts. 
By John Banin. French Military and 
Peasant Costume. Time, li hours. 
4 Interior. 1 Exterior Scenes; 7 

Males; 2 Females. A sergeant’s wife 
who has been absent from her husband 
some time, accidentally meets her hus¬ 
band’s father. They fall in with a 
"ang of thieves and murderers, but 
are rescued by the happy arrival of 
the sergeant. 

Sisterly Service. Comedietta. 1 
Act. By J. P. Wooler. Costume, 
Period Louis XIII. Time, 50 min. 2 
Inferior Scenes; f> Males; 2 Females. 
A sister dresses in her brother’s uni¬ 
form and takes his place at guard in 
order that he may keep an appoint¬ 
ment with his intended. 


164 


MILITARY PLAYS 


Veteran of 10 2. Drama. 1 Act. By 
H. M. Milner. French Costume. 
Time. 1 hour 15 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene. 6 Males; 3 Females. Phillips 
Garbois, a veteran of 102, is anxious 
for his grandson, aged 50, to marry 
again, as the latter’s son has not been 
heard of for some time and Phillips 
wishes his race to continue. The 
return of the lost son together with 
his wife and child renders further 
marriage unnecessary. 


Which of the Two? Comedietta. 

1 Act. By J. M. Morton. Russian 
Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 10 Males; 2 Females. There 
is such a remarkable resemblance 
between twin brothers that one gets 
mistaken for the other during the 
whole play. One is imprisoned and 
escapes, and the other is about to be 
arrested when a pardon arrives from 
the Czar. 


1TATJTT0AL PLATS 


165 


NAUTICAL PLAYS. 


The "Alabama.” 1 Act. By J. M. 
Morton. Time. 1 hour 10 in in. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes: 1 F.xterior Quarter-deck 
Scene; 6 Males: 1 Female. Phoebe is 
conveyed on board the “Alabama” by 
her lover disguised as a middy. Her 
guardian follows, assuming the uni¬ 
form of the caotain of the ship, and 
having the same name he is terrified 
when he has to go through a naval 
action and capture a Federal ship. 

All at C. Musical Melodrama. By 
Major Mullett and L. Wilcpx. Time, 

1 hour. 1 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 
10 Males. This was written and per¬ 
formed on board H.M.S. Tamar, on 
her outward passage to the Ashantee 
war. 

Ben Bolt. Drama. 2 Acts. By J. B. 
Johnstone. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 
Exterior Scene which remains both 
Acts; 7 Males; 2 Females. Ben Bolt 
returns home to marry Alice, when his 
sloop is set on fire by his rival, Iron- 
link, and Ben is ruined. Alice then 
gets into Ironlink’s power, but four 
years after Ben again returns and saves 
her. 

Ben the Boatswain. Drama. 3 
Acts. By T. E. Wilkes. Time, 1 hour 
55 min. 4 Interior. 5 Exterior Scenes; 
17 Males; 4 Females. Ben B 9 wling is 
the intimate shipmate of Edwin Gage, 
who has been cheated out of his 
inheritance by Sir Arthur Trevor, 
having been kidnapped by him in 
infancy. With the assistance of Ben, 
Edwin secures the papers establishing 
his identity and proving him to be the 
real baronet. 

Binks the Bag-man. Farce. 1 Act. 
By J. Stirling Coyne. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time. 1 hour. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 6 Males; 3 Females. Kit 
Crimmins is jealous of Binks the bag- 
man in consequence of his attentions 
to Mrs. Crimmins. Kit imagines his 
wife’s first husband has suddenly 
turned up and therefore contents him¬ 
self with thinking that her former 
partner is the aggrieved man. The 
rumour, however, proves false. 

Black-ey’d Susan. Drama. 2 Acts. 
By W. Jerrold. Time, 2 hours. 3 In¬ 
terior, 5 Exterior Scenes; 14 Males; 

2 Females. This is the most success¬ 
ful nautical play ever written. It has 
acquired a name which will ever be 
remembered. william seeing Susan, 
the girl of his heart, insulted by his 
captain, strikes him down, and is tried 
by court-martial and condemned to be 
hanged. He ifl saved at the last 
moment, it being proved that his dis¬ 
charge was signed before he struck his 
superior officer. 


Blue Jackets ; or, Her Majesty’s 

Service. Farce. 1 Act. By E. 

Stirling. Time. 50 min. 1 Interior, 1 
Deck Scene; 5 Males. 2 Females; and 
supers. Fanny Trunnion, in order to 
rocure the release of her lover, whom 
er father, the Admiral, has confined 
on board, dresses up as a midshipman, 
and. with another girl similarly 
equipped, boards the ship. The 
Admiral finds this out and arrives 
with marines and the girls are over¬ 
powered and the daughter is forgiven. 

Chops of the Channel. Farce. 1 
Act. By F. Hay. Modern Costume. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene: 
Saloon of a Steamer; 3 Males; 2 
Females. A runaway couple meet 
their father on board the steamer to 
Boulogne. Some good business is made 
out of the supposed motion of the 
boat, which does not agree with the 
passengers. 

Floating Beacon. Drama. 2 Acts. 
By E. Fitzball. Time, 1 hour 10 min. 
2 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 6 Males; 
2 Females. Frederick, a foundling, 
gets capsized and seeks refuge on the 
Floating Beacon, a lightship manned 
by Angerstoif and a gang of convicts. 
He meets his mother, who has been 
held a prisoner on the ship for soma 
years, and she protects him from the 
crew until they are rescued by Jack 
Junk, a British sailor, who arrives 
with a party of marines. 

Gale Breezley. Drama. 2 Acts. By 
J. B. Johnstone. Time. 1 hour. 1 Ex¬ 
terior, 4 Interior Scenes; 6 Males; 3 
Females. Some smugglers have in 
their power a young girl, whom one of 
them wishes to marry, and withhold 
from her the history of her parentage. 
Gale Breezley is the means of pro¬ 
tecting her and restoring her to her 
father. 

Jacket of Blue. Farce. 1 Act. By 
T. E. Wilkes. Old-fashioned Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 5 Males; 3 Females. Jack 
Rudderley returns from a voyage with 
prize money and is enabled to set 
right his Cousin Charlolte’s engage¬ 
ment with her lover, whom her father 
objected to, and also settle his own 
matrimonial affairs. 

Jack’s Delight. See Index. 

Jenny Foster, the Sailor’s Child. 

Drama. 2 Acts. By C. H. Hazlewood. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min 2 Interior. 3 
Exterior Scenes; 7 Males: 3 Females. 
Mrs. Foster nas not seen iier son Ben, 
for six years. She is about to nave 
her furniture sold for rent and -ends 
Ben’s child. Jenny, with the 'lead 
mother’s wedding ring to pawn. On her 
way she meets her father who has 
returned with three years’ pay, and 
he is enabled to restore happiness. 


WATTTICAL PLATS 


10$ 

Lancashire Sailor. 1 Act. By 
Brandon Thomas. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Males: 2 Females. Alfred, the adopted 
son of Balnh Ormerod. has had a 
quarrel with his sweetheart, Alice, 
Ormerod’s daughter, and goes to sea, 
vowing she shall never see his face 
again. He returns after three years 
to find he is the heir to the estate, but 
Alice, in the meantime, has become 
blind. Mutual forgiveness follows, 
and he makes her the wife of the Lan¬ 
cashire sailor. 

Lost Ship. Drama. 3 Acts. By 
Thomson Townsend. Period 1800. 
Time, 2 hours 15 min. 7 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scenes; 7 Males; 2 Females. 
Ben Trennant. a man-o’-war’s man, 
returns home to wed Hose, but is lured 
on board a privateer by his rival, 
Martin, and carried to sea. The ship 
founders and Martin leaves Ben lashed 
to the mast. Martin arriving home 
carries off Rose, but is intercepted by 
and killed by Ben, who had escaped. 

Middy Ashore. Farce. 1 Act. By 
Bayle Bernard. Time, 50 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 6 Males; 3 Females. 
Capital farce. Harry Halcyon, a 
young middy, arrives at his aunt’s, 
Lady Starchington, accompanied by 
Tom Cringle, a bo’son. Lady Starch¬ 
ington wishes Harry’s sister to marry 
a Mr. Tonnish, but she is secretly 
engaged to Lieut. Morton, who obtains 
her hand with the assistance of Harry 
and Tom. 

My. Poll and My Partner Joe. 

Drama. 3 Acts. By J. T. Haines. 
Time. 2 hours 30 min. 7 Interior. 4 
Exterior Scenes; 12 Males; 4 Females. 
Harry Hallyard is about to wed Mary 
Maybud when by the treachery of his 
emerny. Black Brandon, he is taken by 
a press gang and confides Mary to the 
care of his nartner Joe. Harry is 
afterwards reported dead, and Joe 
marries Mary. Harry returns, and Joe 
meets with a fatal accident, and when 
dving is enabled to join the hands of 
Poll and his partner Harry. 

Presumptive Evidence. Drama. 2 
Acts. By J. B. Buckstone. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 4 Exterior. 4 Interior 
Scenes; 13 Males; 5 Females. Marma- 
duke Dorgan is accused of murder, 
tried and condemned on presumptive 
evidence. Ultimately his innocence is 
proved by the guilty man confessing. 

Sailor of France. Drama. 2 Acts. 
By J. B. Johnstone. Period 1752. 


Time, 1 hour 40 mic. fl Interiot 

Scenes; 11 Males; 1 Female. Henri 
de St. Cyr is betrothed to Madeline’s 
daughter of a harness maker. Being 
a Royalist, Henri is accused by the 
Repnb’icans for assisting the escape of 
his father, and is about to be executed 
when he escapes. His own party then 
gains the ascendancy, and his father 
is made Deputy-President. 


Staff of Diamonds. Nautical Drama. 
2 Acts. By C. H. Hazlewood. Modern 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 2 Interior 
5 Exterior Scenes; 10 Males; 1 Fe¬ 
male. Palmedo and Namettah are 
slaves, and are married, having one 
child. Their master, Riccio, falls into 
pecuniary difficulties, and the slaves 
pass into the hands of another avari¬ 
cious slave owner. Tom Trunnion, a 
sailor, resolves on setting them free, 
but they are about to be shot when 
the Emperor abolishes slavery through¬ 
out the empire. 


Tom Bowling-. Drama. 2 Acts. By 
A. L. V. Campbell. 3 Interior, 4 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 13 Males: 2 Females. 
Snapfee, a lawyer, has been advanc¬ 
ing money to old Tom Bowling hop¬ 
ing that Tom’s brother John would 
leave them his wealth. News is 
brought of John’s death, and that he 
died insolvent. Snapfee thereupon 
casts old Tom into prison for debt. 
John ultimately arrives, as he had 
merely spread news of his death to test 
Snapfee. 




U ^ , 7T ’ ±JLauia '. z acts, ijy 
E. Fitzball. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 6 
Extenor, 5 Interior Scenes; 8 Males; 
2 females; and supers. Stanton, for¬ 
merly a magistrate, is in difficulties. 
Me is expecting his son from abroad 
w 0 i? .betrothed to a young orphan^ 
HJizabeth, whom he has brought up. 
-He gets into the power of Ironhand 
a notorious wrecker, whose son makes 
Elizabeth marry him in return for 
saving the vessel in which Alfred if- 
sailing. Ironhand mistakes his own 
son for Alfred and kills him, thus 
leaving the lovers iree. 


i V u l 1 Act. By 

t *r i8 i v M + od ? rn Costume. Time. 
35 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 5 Males- 2 
Females. Tom Thrasher returning 
. a arrives just in time to 

Nntt« 8 a £ y ° + l e married to Timothy 
Nutts. He thereupon selects th« 
bridesmaid. Rose Elton, to be hia wifi! 


HtlSH PLATS 


1G7 


IRISH PLAYS. 


Arrah na Pogue. See MS. playa. 

Andy Blake. Comedy. 2 Acta. By 
Dion Boucicault. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 nnn. 2 Interior Scenes; 4 
Males.; 3 Females. Dick, son ot 
General Daly, makes love to Mary 
Blake under an assumed name. Andy, 
her brother, finds this out, and inter¬ 
views the General. It transpires that 
Mary’s father lost his life in saving tho 
General, who then consents to Mary’s 
engagement with his son. 

Barney the Baron. Farce. 1 Act. 

Country Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 
Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 7 Males; 3 
Females. An itinerant Irish tinker 
wins a castle and a German Barony in 
a lottery, and comes to take posses¬ 
sion, but being persuaded the place is 
haunted he is induced to sell the pro¬ 
perty to the son of the former owner. 

Born to Good Luck. Farce. 1 Act. 
By Tyrone Power. Italian Costume of 
last century, and powdered wigs. Time. 

1 hour. 8 Males; 3 Females. Paudeen 
O’Rafferty is landed at Naples instead 
of Dublin. He is starving and desti¬ 
tute. However, he saves Count Corad- 
ino who is attacked by assassins, and 
is eventually married to a rich old 
countess. 

Brian Boroihme. Drama. 3 Acts. 
By J. S. Knowles. Time, 2 hours. 7 
Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 13 Males: 

2 Females. Brian is being besieged by 
the Danes near Dublin, and his 
daughter, Erina, is captured by them, 
and O’Donohue, a chief to whom she 
is betrothed, goes to her rescue. He 
is captured, and is on the point of 
being executed when Elgitha, a Danish 
princess, who is in love with him, 
affords them the means of escape. 

Colleen Bawn. Drama. 3 Acts. By 
Dion Boucicault. .Period. 179—. Time, 
2 hours 45 min. 4 Interior, 8 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 9 Males; 6 Females. 
Hardress Cregan is secretly married to 
Eily O’Connor, the Colleen Bawn: he 
is in debt, and the only way to get out 
of his embarrassments is to marry 
Anne Chute, an heiress. Danny Mann, 
his servant, knows this, and to save 
his master tries to drown Eily. who is, 
however saved by Myles-na-Coppal- 
leen. Hardress is accused of murder, 
but Eily appearing everything is 
cleared up. 

Don Paddy de Bazan. Farce. 1 
Act. By J. Holmes Groves. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 4 Interior, 
1 Exterior Scenes; 6 Maks; ] Female. 


Patrick McGuire, alias Don Paddy d« 
Bazan, attempts to save Claretta from 
arrest and strikes an officer, for which 
he is condemned to death. He is al¬ 
lowed to marry her au hour before hia 
execution, and then manages to es¬ 
cape. 

Eileen Oge. Drama. 4 Acts. By E. 
Falconer. Time, 2 hours 45 min. 3 
Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 12 Males; 

4 Females. Patrick O’Donnell is about 
to marry Eileen Moriarty when he is 
arrested and condemned to imprison¬ 
ment afid exiled on a false charge, 
which is got up by Loftus and 
McLean, his agent. Some years 
elapse and Ei'een consents under pres¬ 
sure to marry Loftus, when Patrick 
turns up again with a free pardon. 
He changes places with Loftus in the 
procession to church, and Loftus and 
McLean are arrested. 

Eily O’Connor. Drama. 2 Acts. By 

T. E. Wilkes. Period, 1810. 4 In¬ 

terior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 8 Males; 4 
Females. Another version of “The 
Colleen Bawn.” 

Gentleman from Ireland. Comedy. 
2 Acts. By Fitzjames O’Brien. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 35 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; G Males; 2 Females. 
Robert Dudley and Lucy Clover have 
been betrothed as children by their 
parents, but Lucy is in love with Hugh 
Savage and Dudley dies suddenly in 
Dublin. Gerald Fitzmaurioe is sent 
over to London to break the sad news 
to the Clovers. They, however, think 
ho is Dudley in disguise. Gerald mar¬ 
ries Lucy’s sister, and Lucy is allowed 
to marry Savage. 

Handy Andy. Comic Drama. 1 Act. 
By H. W. Montgomery. Time, 1 hour 

5 min. 4 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 
11 Males; 7 Females. 

Handy Andy. Comic Drama. 2 Acts. 
By W. R. Floyd. Time, 1 hour 15 
min. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 
10 Males; 3 Females. Both of tbes6 
are versions of the well-known novel, 
and deal with the blunders of Andy, 
who is engaged as a servant to Squire 
Egan, some of which turn out to his 
master’s advantage. 

Happy Man. Extravaganza. 1 Act. 
By S. Lover. Eastern Costume. Time, 
50 min. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 
7 Males; 2 Females. The Rajah Ram 
Rusti is informed by his soothsayer 
that the only euro for him is to wear 
the shirt of a happy man, and bis 
attendants start in Bearch thciojf. 
They come across Paddy Mixrphy, a 


168 


IRISH PLATS. 


soldier, who declares he is a happy 
man, and they demand his shirt. 
Paddy declines to part with it, and it 
is taken from him by force j and as 
compensation he is appointed governor 
of a province. 

His Last Leg’s- Farce. 2 Acts. Ey 
B. Bernard. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour 30 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 5 Males; 3 Females. O’Calla- 
gan is on his last legs. He managep 
to introduce himself to a family, set 
their matters right, and reinstate his 
own position. 

I’m Not Myself at All. Farce. 1 

Act. By C. A. Maltby. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 28 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Males, 2 Females. Pheiun 
O’Rourke enters a gentleman’s house, 
and seeing by a letter that Major 
O’Hagan is likely to come and stop 
six months, adopts the major’s name, 
and a most amusing scene follows. 

Ireland as it Was. Drama. 2 Acts. 
By J. A. Amherst. Time, 1 hour SO 
min. 4 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 8 
Males; 3 Form s. An old Irishman, 
is imprisoned and falsely accused of 
robbery, but ultimately proves his in¬ 
nocence. 

Irish Attorney. Farce. 2 Acts. By 
B. Bernard. Costume, 1770. Time, 1 
hour 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 8 
Males; 2 Females. Mr. Wylie, a 
steady and prosperous laywer. takes 
Pierce O’Hara into partnership. Dur¬ 
ing Mr. Wylie’s temporary absence 
O’Hara takes charge of affairs in a 
ludicrous manner. 

Irish Doctor; or, The Dumb Lady 
Cured. Farce. 1 Act. By George 
Wood. Costume, Period, 1760. Time, 
1 hour. 2 Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 
8 Males; 3 Females. Dennis Murphy, 
a broom maker, is mistaken for a doc¬ 
tor, and dragged off to prescribe for a 
lady who has been struck dumb. The 
lady is only pretending, but Murphy’s 
remedies are so extraordinary that she 
has to admit herself cured. 

Irish Emigrant. Comic Drama. 2 
Acts. By J. Brougham. Time, 1 hcur 
15 min. S Interior. 1 Exterior Scenes; 
6 Males; 3 Females. Tom Bobaluck, 
a truckman, finds a purse containing 
a large sum of money, and is tempted 
to retain it. His wife and O’Bryan, 
a poor Irishman whom she has be¬ 
friended, cpme across the money, and 
restore it to the rightful owner, who 
amply rewards them. 

Irish Lion. Farce. 1 Act. By J. B. 
Buckstone. Modern Costume. Time, 


60 min. 4 Interior Scenes; 8 Maics; 
3 Females. Tom Moore, a travelling 
tailor, is mistaken for his namesake, 
the illustrious “ bard of Erin.” He ia 
invited to meet a party of his ad¬ 
mirers, and a most amusing scene is 
enacted. 

Irish Post. Comic Drama. 2 A.cta 
By J. R. Planche. Modern Costume 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 2 Int- 3 ior 
Scenes (Stockbroker’s Office and Gro¬ 
cer’s shop); 9 Males; 3 Females. 
Terence O’Grady is employed as a 
clerk in the office of his uncle, Mr. 
Lane, a stockbroker; he puts letters in 
wrong envelopes, and causes such 
trouble and confusion that he is sent 
back to Ireland. 


Irish Tiger. Farce. 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 5 Males; 2 
Females. Alderman Marrowfat adver¬ 
tises for an Irish Tiger; at ihe same 
time he hears . that Sir Charles 
Lavender (who is engaged to his 
daughter) is about to enter his house 
in answer to the advertisement dis¬ 
guised as an Irish servant. A real 
Irish servant arrives, whom the Aider- 
man mistakes for the boronet, and 
when the baronet arrives he is mis¬ 
taken for the Irish servant. 

Irish Tutor. Farce. 1 Act. By Lord 
Glengall. Time, 40 min. 2 Exterior, 
1 Interior Scenes; 4 Males; 2 Females. 
Terry O’Rourke enters the house of 
Mr. Tillswell to educate his son under 
the disguise of Dr. O’Toole, who was 
lately his master, and is too ill to 
accept the situation. How the Irish 
tutor fares is very amusingly described. 

Irishman in London. Farce. 1 
Act. By W. Macready. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior, 
1 Interior Scene; 6 Males; 3 Females. 
An Irishman, accompanied by his 
servant, comes to London to marry 
the daughter of a merchant. The 
lady prefers a gentleman of her own 
country, who, by various methods, en¬ 
deavours to secure the lady. 

More Blunders than One. Farce. 
1 By Thomas G. Rodwell. 

Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 3 
Interior Scenes; 4 Males; 3 Females. 
Henry Melbourne is expecting his 
uncle from India; he is also dodging 
Trap, a bailiff. Trap disguises him¬ 
self as the uncle, and is received by 
Larry Hoolagan with open arms, and 
when the real uncle arrives he is as¬ 
saulted and forcibly ejected as an im 
postor. Satisfactory explanations fol¬ 
low. 


IEISH 


PLATS. 


169 


Omnibus. Faroe. 1 Act. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 5 Males; 4 Females. Mr. 
Ledger, who requires peace and quiet, 
retires to a country house ten miles 
from town. He is so bothered by 
friends and relations who come down 
by the omnibus to stop with him and 
his servant. Pat Rooney, who makes 
such stupid mistakes, that he is 
obliged to move further away. 

Paddy Carey, or the Boy of Clog- 
heen. Farce. 1 Act. By Tyrone 
Power. Military and Peasant Cos¬ 
tumes. Time, 40 mil. 2 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 9 Males; 3 Females. 
Paddy Carey is in love with Kate 
McClure; she, however, favours Fitz- 
roy. Her father is arrested for debt, 
but Fitzroy, by enlisting and earning 
the bounty, is enabled to secure his 
release. Paddy obtains permission to 
change places with Fitzroy, and leaves 
him to marry Kate, while Paddy goes 
off with the recruits. 

Paddy Miles. Farce. 1 Act. By J. 
Pilgrim. Time, 45 min. 1 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene; 5 Males; 2 Females. 
Paddy Miles leaves Limerick, where he 
has Shvays been getting into trouble. 
He changes his name and obtains a 
situation, but getting up to his tricks 
again, he is discovered. 

Pike O’Callaghan, Drama. 2 Acts. 
By Wybert Reeve. Time, 1 hour 15 
min. 5 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 7 
Males; 2 Females; 2 Children. Neill 
O’Connor, an attainted rebel, who is 
enraged to Lady Broughton, is hiding 
w'hen he meets Pike O’Callaghan, who 
shelters him in his cottage. They are 
‘observed by Red Rufus, an informer, 
who puts the police on to them, and 
they are arres'ed. Sir John Black- 
adder, who is a so in love with Lady 
Broughton, receives a pardon for 
O’Connor. Tips he thinks he has 
destroyed, but it is rescued by Pike’s 
wife, and O’Coruuor is free. 

Rory O’More. Drama. 3 Acts. By 
S. Lover. Old-fashioned and Country 
Costume. Time. 2 hours 40 nrn. 6 
Interio •. 10 Exte ior Scenes; 10 Males; 

7 Females. Rory O’More hides De 
Lacey, an officer from France, in his 
cottage, and in carrying an inpiortant 
letter to him, is arrested. He destroys 
the letter and is released. He is 
suspected of having betrayed the plot, 
and is seized by Shan Dhu and the 
smugglers, but escapes. 

St. Patrick’s Day, or the Schem¬ 
ing Lieutenant. Farce. 2 Acts. 
By R. B. Sheridan. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time. 1 hour. 2 Exterior. 1 
Interior Scenes: 8 Males; 2 Females. 
Lieut. O’Connor is in love with 
Lauretta, the daughter of Justice 
Credulous. With the assistance of Dr. 
Rosy he disguises himself, and is 


engaged as bodyguard by Credulous, 
but is discovered. Credulous is per¬ 
suaded that he has been poisoned, and 
O’Connor disguises as a doctor and 
undertakes to cure him at the price 
of his daughter’s hand. 

St. Patrick’s Eve. Drama. 3 Acts. 
By Tyrone Power. Early Military 
Costume. Time, 2 hours. 4 Interior, 

4 Exterior Scenes; 11 Males; 4 
Females. Captain Gustavus Schon- 
feldt, who is secretly married to 
Catherine, is sent by Frederick. King 
of Prussia, on a dangerous expedition, 
and Catherine makes Major O’Dog- 
herty promise to send her news before 
midnight as to Gustavus’s safety. The 
Major is writing this letter -when he is 
discovered by the King with a light 
after sunset, and, according to th» 
order of the day, is condemned to be 
shot. After much entreaty the King 
connives at the Major’s escape. The 
Major, however, obtains a free pardon 
and promotion by frustrating a plot by 
the Austrians to seize the King. 

Shaughraun. Drama. 3 Acts. By 
Dion Boucicault. Irish Peasants, 
Soldiers, and Police Costume. Time, 
3 hours. 8 Interior, 8 Exterior Scenes; 
12 Males; 6 Females. Robert Ffolliott 
is in love with Arte O’Neill, and is 
sentenced as a Fenian, owing to the 
false evidence of Harvey Duff, an 
info mer, and Ki chela, who is aLo 
in love with Arte. Conn, the 
Shaughraun, manages to rescue 
Robert, who escapes to sea. The 
Fenians are raidoned,. and Robert 
returns, and Kinchela is arrested for 
attempted murder. 

Siamese Twins. Farce. 1 Act. By 
J. A. A’Beckett. Modern Costume. 
Time, 45 min. 3 Interior Scenes: 4 
Mai s; 2 Females. Captain Vivid in 
order to gain old Forceps’ consent to 
a marriage with his ward, dresses his 
Irish servant and the boots at an inn 
as Siamese Twins. He divides them 
in the presence of Forceps, who is glad 
to give his consent to such a distin¬ 
guished and skilled operator. 

Teddy, the Tiler. Farce. 1 Act. By 
G. H. Rodwell. Time, 40 min. 2 
Interior. 2 Exterior Scenes; 12 Males; 

5 Females. Teddy Mulowney, a tiler, 
takes refuge from the ra : n in Henry 
Dunderford’s room. He puts on Dun¬ 
derford’s dress clothes which are lying 
about, and is then carried off by force 
to a ball, where he is introduced as 
Henry. His extraordinary behaviour 
causes him to be discovered. 

That Rascal Pat. Farce. 1 Act. 
By J. Holmes Grover. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Males; 2 Females. Pat 
McNoggerty. thinking his master, 
Charles Livingstone, has gone away for 
a long time, engages himself as valet 
to Major Pufijacket. Charles suddenly 


170 


IRISH 


PLATS 


returns, and Part has great difficulty in 
attending to and satisfying his two 
masters. 

Two to One. Farce. 1 Act. By A. 
Clements. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Kitchen Scene; 1 Male; 3 
Females. A cook and a housemaid are 
in love with the footman, and a quarrel 
ensues, which is terminated by the 
footman declaring he is already 
married. 

White Horse of the Peppers. 

Comic Drama. By S. Lover. Costume, 
1690. Time, 1 hour 35 min. 4 Interior, 
3 Exterior Scenes; 11 Males; 2 
Females. Gerald Pepper, an Irish 
gentleman, and owner of Ballygorth 
House, is declared an outlaw, and 
deprived of his estates, for his part in 
the rebellion against William III. 


Hans Mansfeldt. a Dutch mercenary 
is rewarded with the grant of all 
Gerald’s property, and comes to take 
possession. Gerald disguises himself 
as a peasant, and undertakes to guide 
Mansfeldt to Ballygorth. He leads 
him through a bog, where Mansfeldt 
loses his horse, and takes him to an old 
ruin, and in the end the Dutchman is 
glad to exchange the estate, which he 
is led to suppose is valueless, for 
Pepper’s white horse to take him back 
to Dublin again. 

Who Do They Take Me For? Farce. 
1 Act. Bv J. M. Morton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 4 Males; 2 Females. An Irish* 
man is continually being mistaken for 
someone else, and receives various 
bribes from the parties, to his utter 
bewilderment. 


SCOTCH FLATS. 


171 


SCOTCH PLAYS. 


Oonnio Fishwife. Musical Interlude. 

1 Act. By C. Selby. Modern and 
Scotch Costume. Time, 50 min. 2 
Interior Scenes: 3 Males; 1 Female. 
A father commands his son to marry a 
certain young lady, and the son objects 
to bo dictated to in such an important 
affair, and in order to avoid the inter¬ 
view flies to Scotland. The father and 
young lady follow, the former dressed 
as a Highlander, the latter as a Fish¬ 
wife, and under this disguise he falls 
in love with her, and the father’s 
object is attamed. 

Border Marriage. Comic Drama. 1 
Act. By W. J. Sorrell. Costume, 
Period 1654. Time, 1 hour 10 min. 1 
Interior Scene; 7 Males; 1 Female. 
Sir Walter Raeburn, an impecunious 
lord, is entertaining his guests on 
poultry which has been shot and taken 
from the estate of a widow. Mistress 
Willoughby, who calls to complain. 
Captain Cuxhaven, the chief culprit, 
arrests her, and, in order to obtain her 
release, she signs a contract of mar¬ 
riage with Sir Walter, thinking it a 
joke on the part of the Captain. The 
joke proves to be a reality. 

Cramond Brig. Comic Drama. 2 
Acts. By W. H. Murray. Costume, 
James V. Time, 1 hour 30 min 1 
Exterior, 4 Interior Scenes; 9 Males: 

2 Females. King James, having 
strayed from his party in the forest, 
rescues the daughter of a farmer, Jock 
Howieson, from James Birkie, a mem¬ 
ber of his Court, who threatens to 
remove Howieson from his farm. The 
king is entertained incog, by Howieson, 
who is afterwards invited to the Court, 
when the king discloses himself, makes 
Howieson a knight, and punishes 
Birkie. 

Douglas. Tragedy. 5 Acts. By Rev. 
John Horne. Time, 2 hours. 3 
Exterior Scenes; 7 Males; 2 Females. 
Lady Randolph, formerly he wife of 
Lord Douglas, had a son by her first 
marriage, who was stolen in infancy. 
Lord Randolph, attacked by free¬ 
booters, instigated by his secret foe, 
G-lenalvon, is rescued by a young shep¬ 
herd known as Norval, in whom Lady 
Randolph finally recognises her long- 
lost son. Glenalvon causes Randolph, 
who is unaware of the relationship, to 
ove&hear an interview between mother 
and son, which so inflames his jealousy 
that Randolph forces young Norval to 
a duel. Norval contents himself with 
disarming Randolph, but the latter 
treacherously stabs Norval, who dies 
in his mother’s arms, she proclaiming 
him to be her son and a Douglas. 

Fair Maid of Perth. Drama. 3 Acts. 
By H. M. Milner and T. H. Lacy. 
Costume, Period 1402. Time, 2 hours 
15 min. 8 Interior, 8 Exterior Scenes; 
25 Males; 5 Females. Catherine 


Glover is beloved by Harry Smith, 
known as “Gow of the Wynd” a noted 
armourer, of Edinburgh. Catherine 
is abducted by the Duke of Rothsay, 
Hit when he in turn is imprisoned and 
slain by Bonthron, Catherine vainly 
tries to save her persecutor’s life. 
After numerous adventures Catherine 
is rescued by Harry to whom she 
becomes bethrothed. 

Gilderoy. Drama. 2 Acts. By W. H. 
Murray. Highland Military Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 4 Exterior 
Scenes;. 12 Males; 3 Females. A 
reward is offered for the capture of 
Gilderoy, who is in love with Lilias, 
the daughter of a farmer named 
Logan. He is in Logan’s cottage when 
soldiers arrive to. arrest him, but dis¬ 
guising himself is enabled to escape. 
Logan is about to be executed for 
this, but Gilderoy appears with a 
party of Highlanders and saves him. 

Guy Mannering, Drama. 3 Acts. 
By D. Terry. Time, 2 hours 15 mm. 
3 Interior. 6 Exterior Scenes; 14 
Males; 6 Females. Adapted from Sir 
Walter Scott’s well-known novel of the 
same name. Harry Bertram, the heir 
of Ellangowan. returning to his native 
place after a long exile, is recognised 
by Meg Merrilies, the spae-wife, and in 
spite of the machinations of Glossin, 
a scoundrelly attorney who has 
endeavoured to deprive him of his 
birthright, his estates are restored to 
him, and he weds the sister of Guy 
Mannering. 

Heart of Midlothian. Drama. 3 

Acts. Time, 2 hours 30 min. 6 In¬ 
terior. 5 Exterior Scenes; 15 Males; 6 
Females. Effie and Jeannie Deans 
are sisters. Effie is secretly married 
to Butler, an outlaw, and endeavours 
to conceal her infant child; conceal¬ 
ment of birth being at that time a 
capital offence. Effie is arrested, 
tried, . and condemned to death. 
Jeannie journeys to London, obtains 
a free pardon from Queen Caroline for 
her sister, and succeeds in returning 
iust as Effie is being led to execution. 

Highland Legracy. See Index. 

Hogmanay. See Index. 


My Heart’s in the Highlands. 

Farce. 1 Act. By W. Brough and A. 
Halliday. Time, 30 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 5 Males; 2 Females. A retired 
tobacconist will not allow his daughter 
to marry anyone but a Scotchman; 
her lover is not admissible, for 
although a Scotchman, he has not a 
Mac before his name. 


Oor Geordie. Farce. 1 Act. By J. 

Cooper. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 1 Interior Scene; 5 Males; 3 
Females. A husband and wife in diffi¬ 
culties have to reduce their establish¬ 
ment and take in a Scot'.h manservant. 
The blunders he makes are amusingly 
illustrated. 


172 


PLAYS CONTAINING A FRENCH CHARACTER 


PLAYS CONTAINING A FRENCH 
CHARACTER. 


Artist’s Wife. Comedy. 2 Acts. By 

6. A’Beckett. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 3 Males; 3 Females. A 
French artist, having married above 
his station, toils to obtain his wife the 
luxuries she had been used to. In so 
doing he becomes blind. The wife, in 
her turn, adopts the stage and gains 
success unknown to her husband, who 
imagines that her absence from him 
is caused by her loving another. On 
her explanation a satisfactory con¬ 
clusion is arrived at. 

Browne With an “ E.” See Index 

Did I Dream It? See Index. There 
is a French valet in this play. 

Done Brown. Farce. 1 Act. By H. 
T. Craven. Modern Costume, Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene- 5 Males; 1 
Female. Octave Alfred Leclef, a 
Frenchman, has fallen in love with 
his pupil, Rosabelle, and has also 
been making up to his landlady to 
whom he owes rent. Rosabelle’s 
father calls and forbids him the house, 
and the landlady finds another sui'or. 
Rosabelle has already secretly married 
Alfred Bingham, so the Frenchman is 
done brown. 

First Night. Comic Drama. 1 Act. 

Modern Costume. Time, 1 hour. 3 
Interior Scenes; 1 Sitting-room and 2 
Stage scenes; 5 males; 2 Females. 
Achille Talma Dufard is most anxious 
for his daughter. Rose, to make her 
debut on the public stage. Miss 
Arabella Fitzjames quarrels, with her 
manager before the first night of a 
new piece and throws up her part. 
Rose undertakes the character and 
makes a great hit. 

French Exhibition. Farce. 1 Act. 
By F. Hay. Modern Costume. Time, 
32 min. 1 Interior Scene; 4 Males; 2 
Females. Describes the troubles of 
an Italian warehouseman and his wife 
visiting the Exhibition. 

Grimaldi; or, The Life of an 
Actress. Drama. 5 Acts. By Dion 
Boucicault. Modern Costume. Time, 
2 hours 30 min. 5 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes, 9 Males; 7 Females. 
Similar in ’•'lot to the First Night” 
and “ My Daughter’s Debut.” 

Ici on Parle Francais. See Index. 

Model of a Wife. (Farced 1 Act. 
By A. Wigan. Modern Costume. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 
Males. 2 Females. A Frenchman 


falls in love with the niece of Mr. 
Stump, who is a painter and teachel 
of drawing, and they endeavour to 
make him believe that a lay figurs 
was the object of his attraction. 

Monsieur Jacques. Musical Piece. 
By Morris Barnett. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 1 interior 
Scene; 4 Males; 1 Female. Shows 
the unexpected meeting of a father 
with his child. (The pianoforte musio 
is on hire). 

My Daughter's Debut. Musical 

Comedy. 1 Act. By H. T. Craven. 
Modern Costume. Time, 53 min. 5 
Interior Scenes: 6 Males; 2 Females. 
Plot same as “ First Night.” 

Night on Snowdon. See Index. 

Paul Pry. See Index. There is a 
French valet in this play. 

Poor Soldier. See under Operas. A 
g 9 od French servant’s part in this 
piece. 

Post Boy. See Index. There is a 
French Waiting-man in this piece. 

Pretty Predicaments. Farce. 1 
Act. By A. J. Phipps. Modern 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Males: 3 Females. Mr. 
Fitzfudge joins the volunteers, and is 
afraid his wife should hear of it. His 
wife, however, enters the restaurant 
where he is, with a Frenchman who 
had protected her from insult. This 
and other coincidences lead matters 
to pretty predicaments. 

Rule Britannia. Farce. 1 Act. By 
M. Becher. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Males; 
2 Females. A young lady is obliged 
to marry a foreigner, otherwise her 
money is forfeited. Her guardian 
procures a Frenchman, but her lover 
also comes disguised as a gentleman 
of the same nationality. The lover 
wins the young lady, claiming that 
he is descended from a Jersey family, 
and consequently a foreigner. 

Shameful Behaviour. Comedietta. 

2 Acts. By A. C. Troughton. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 1 
Interior Scene throughout; 5 Males; 

3 Females. Mrs. Airey, a widow, is 
a coquette. She at last falls in love 
with Henry Vernon, but, in conse¬ 
quence of her shameful behaviour to 
her other lover, has great difficulty 
la making a conquest of h im. 


PLATS CONTAINING A FRENCH CHARACTER. 


173 


To Parents and Guardians. Comic 
Drama. 1 Act. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 2 Scenes; 1 
Interior. 1 Exterior. The 1st and 3rd 
Scene can be the same. 17 Males; 3 
Females. The action of this play 
takes place at a school where the boys 
are fond of playing pranks on the 
French master. A poor French girl 
appears, and they dress her up and 
introduce her to the French master 
as his wife. The girl happens to be 
his own daughter, and he learns that 
h-'s confiscated estates have been 
restored to him. 


Two Gregrories. See Index. French 

valet in the piece. 

Waltz by Arditi. Farce. 1 Act. By 
John Oxenford. Modern Costume. 
Time, 35 min. 1 Interior Scene; 5 
Males: 3 Females. A young lady 
enters a music shop and asks for 
“Two Kisses.” meaning the Waltz 
by Arditi. A gentleman temporarily 
serving in the shop immediately em¬ 
braces her. much to her disgust. She 
informs her father, who is a French¬ 
man, and he enters when the pro¬ 
prietor o * the shcr> is back again and 
accuses him of the insult offered t« 
his daughter. 


174 


TEMPER A VC'S PLATS 


TEMPERANCE PLAYS. 


Aunt Dinah’s Pledge. Drama. 2 

Acts. By Harry Seymour. Modern 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 3 Interior, 
1 Exterior Scenes; 6 Males; 3 

Females. Aunt Dinah, an old 

coloured nurse, is the means of 
making her master, who is a rich 
liquor dealer, give up his business and 
reform his nephew. 

The Bottle. Drama. 2 Acts. By T. 
P. Taylor. Modem Costume. Time, 

1 hour 15 min. 7 Interior. 6 Ex¬ 
terior Scenes; 10 Males; 6 Females. 
A popular temperance play, illustra¬ 
tive of Cruikshank’s famous picture. 
Richard Thornley, after ten years’ 
married life, induces his wife to drink 
with him. He commences a drunken 
career, which ruins his family. He 
kills his wife, and ends by becoming a 
hopeless maniac. 

The Drunkard. Drama. 4 Acts. By 
W. H. Smith. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour 10 min. 9 Exterior, 6 
Interior Scenes; 13 Males, 6 Female 
Characters. Edward Middleton, 
urged on by a villainous lawyer, takes 
to drink, and his wife and child are 
brought to poverty, amidst which the 
wife’s mother dies. He is saved by 
a philanthropist, Arden Rencelaw, 
who restores him to his family com¬ 
pletely cured. 

The Drunkard’s Children. Drama. 

2 Acts. By J. B. Johnson. Modern 
Costume. Time, 50 min. 8 Exterior, 
7 Interior Scenes; 21 Males, 5 Female 
Characters. This is a sequel to The 
Bottle, and describes the lives of the 
two children, Robert and Mary. The 
former gets condemned and dies m 
prison, while Marv endeavours to com¬ 
mit suicide by throwing herself into 
the Thames, but gets saved by hsr 
lover. 

The Drunkard’s Doom. Drama. 2 
Acts. By G. P. Pitt. German Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 4 Exterior, 6 

Interior Scenes; 15 Male, 5 Female 
Characters. Adelich Starke is a drun¬ 
kard, and expelled the village. He is 
visited by a dwarf, who informs him 
that if he takes one more glass of 
drink it will be his last, and the 
dwarf continually appears during the 

E lay showing him a nail which is to 
e the last for his coffin. He gets 
cured, and marries Agatha, who had 
fallen in love with him. 

Th© Drunkard’s Warning. Drama. 
8 Acts. By C. W. Taylor. Modern 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 8 
Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 6 Male, 3 
Female Characters. Edward Mor- 
daunt, through drink and dissipation, 
robs his own father-in-law. He is 


brought to his senses when he sees 
his wjfe dying through his own mis¬ 
deeds, and swears to devote his future 
life to the cause of temperance. 

• 

The Fatal Glass. Drama. 3 Acts, 
By J. M'Closkey. Time, 1 hour 15 
min. 9 Exterior 7 Interior Scenes; 
11 Male, 9 Female Characters. Am¬ 
brose Verney on his wedding morning 
is induced to take his last glass, al¬ 
though he has vowed never to touch 
any intoxicating liquor in future. The 
contents of this glass are drugged, and 
he is overcome, and dreams of his 
future life, which is enacted in the 
play, and' when he is about to be led 
to the scaffold he awakes. This cures 
him of any intemperance in the future. 

Fifteen Years of a Drunkard’s 
Life. Melodrama. 3 Acts. B^ 
Douglass Jerrold. Modern Costume. 
Time, 1 hour. 6 Interior, 6 Exterior 
Scenes; 10 Male, 4 Female Characters. 
The three acts in this piece extend 
over 15 years, during which period 
Vernon is brought to ruin through 
drink, and finally shoots his wite. 
Another character named Copsewood, 
a farmer, also comes to grief over the 
same cause. 

The Fruits of the Wine Cup. 

Drama. 3 Acts. By J. H. Allen. 
Modern Costume. Time, 45 min. 5 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 6 Male, 
3 Female Characters. Mr. Hamilton, 
through drink, allows himself to be 
robbed by Andrews, when Speculation, 
an old partner of Andrews, appears, 
and makes the latter divide the spoil 
with him. Hamilton is thrown into 
prison, when he reforms, and Andrews 
attempts to murder Speculation, but 
fails. The latter proves to be the 
uncle of Charles Baily, who is engaged 
to Hamilton’s daughter, Kate. 


Ruined by Drink. Drama. 4 Acts. 
By Noble Adkisson. Time, 2 hours. 
1 Exterior, 4 Interior Scenes; 9 
Males; 5 Females. A family are 
ruined through the husband taking a 
drink, when he gets wounded in a 
drinking saloon, and then reforms. 


Th © S J? C L? 1 G,ass - Drama. 5 Acts. 
By T. T. Woodward. Modem Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 80 min. 5 In¬ 
terior. 2 Exterior Scenes; 6 Male, 3 
Female Characters. James Hollis, 
taking advantage of the intemperance 
of Charles Thornley, obtains some of 
the latter’s property by means of a 
forged mortgage. On being discovered 
Hollis commits suicide, and Thornlej 
f«foriu#. 


TEMPERANCE PLATS. 


175 


The Temperance Doctor. Drama. 
2 Acts. By H. Seymour. Modern 
Costume. Time, 45 min. 8 Interior, 3 
Exterior Scenes; 10 Male, 5 Female 
Characters. George Hall is a temper¬ 
ance doctor, and during the action of 
the play he converts every one of the 
characters, and induces them all to 
sign the pledge. 

Ten Nights in a Bar Room. Drama. 
6 Acts. By W. Pratt. Modern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 15 min. 6 Ex¬ 
terior. 7 Interior Scenes; 11 Male, 5 
Female Characters. This is the most 
popular of the series. Simon Slade 
was once a miller, but sold his busi¬ 
ness and purchased the Sickle and 
Sheaf Inn, where many disorderly 
scenes take place. Slade throws a 
glass at a drunken man, Joe Morgan, 
whose chill is hit, and eventually dies. 
la afterwards killed by his own 


son in a drunken fit. Morgan reforms, 
and the play closes with a scene de* 
picting his now happy home. 

Twilight. Drama. 1 Act. By Her¬ 
bert Swears. Modern Costume, lime, 
35 mm. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Males; 
1 Female. Agnes Winthrop is in love 
with Frank Hartley, who many years 
previously had played a trick upon 
Austin Merrick at college, by intro¬ 
ducing brandy into his beverage when 
the latter had sworn never to take any 
intoxicating liquors. This deed makes 
Merrick a drunkard, and in conse¬ 
quence his mother dies of a broken 
heart. He afterwards falls in love 
with Agnes, only to find that he is 
forestalled by the very man who has 
inadvertently caused him all his 
“‘fery- , He departs to fight out the 
battle of life alone, and leave* thtt 
lovers free. 


173 


children’s plats, 


CHILDREN’S PLAYS. 


The object of publishing these little plays is to provide a series that require 
one scene only in each piece, and which will occupy about 15 to 25 minutes in 
performance. They can be thoroughly recommended as some of the simplest 
plays for children ever published. 


Delicate Boy. By S. J. Adair Fitz¬ 
Gerald. 1 Male; 2 Females. Scene, 
a Room. A mother informs her two 
little girls that their cousin Jack will 
arrive, and they are to entertain him 
during her absence, remarking he is a 
delicate boy. Jack arrives, and proves 
just the reverse, promising to be their 
champion and fight for them. 

Fairy Blossom. By F. D. Adams. 

Scene, a King’s Chamber; 3 Males; 3 
Females. The Fairy Blossom belong¬ 
ing to the queen has been stolen, and 
the king vows he will severely punish 
the thief. Carlo is accused, but his 
betrothed wife Lena will not allow 
him to be sacrificed, as she plucked the 
flower to comfort her sick sister. The 
king, who had complained about hav¬ 
ing nothing to do, then learns that his 
alms have not been distributed 
amongst the poor in a proper manner, 
and resolves to look after them him¬ 
self. 

Good Boy and the Bad. By S. J. 

Adair Fitz-Gerald. 2 Males; 1 Female. 
Scene, corner of playground, or could 
be played in a room. Septimus is a 
studious boy, and William trouble¬ 
some. They have a scene before their 
cousin Florence, William stigmatising 
Septimus as a sneak. The latter 
proves himself otherwise, and they 
make it up. 

Grannie’s Picture. By L. Debenham. 
2 Females. Scene, a Room. Written 
in verse. A little girl dreams that 
some magic power will give her Gran¬ 
nie, whose picture is in the room, 
speech for half-an-hour. The figure of 
her grandmother walks out of the 
frame, and they have a discourse com¬ 
paring past and present events. 

Home Fairy. By F. D. Adams. Scene, 
a Parlour; 2 Males; 2 Females. Bertie 
Egerton and his wife are very poor, 
and cannot get work. Their little 
daughter, Lily,, is desirous of doing 
something to help them. The pro¬ 
prietor of a theatre, Cecil Vane, ar¬ 
rives, and offers to make Lily a fairy 
in the pantomime, to fill the place of 
one who is ill. Lily’s mother happens 
to be Vane’s long lost daughter, and 
they are happily re-united. 

King: in Disgruise. By F. D. Adame. 
Scene, a Cottage Room; 5 Males, i 
Female. This is the story of King 
Alfred and the cakes, and of hie 
eojourn at the neatherd’s cottage, 
%here news is brought to him of the 
overthrow of the Danes. 


Lady Cecil. By F. D. Adams. Scene 

a Room; 1 Male, 4 Females. A nurs« 
brings her own child up as •the Lady 
Cecil, the real Lady Cecil being lost 
when an infant. They have a hand¬ 
maid, Clare, to whom the nurse is 
cruel, but who is beloved by Cecil. A 
fairy appears, and announces Clare to 
be the child that was lost. Lord 
Hilary has courted Lady Cecil, but 
vows the change will not make any 
difference in his affections. 

Little Folks’ Work. By F. D. Adams. 

Scene, a Kitchen; 2 Males; 3 Females. 
Three little children resolve to help 
their father and mother in household 
duties; they make terrible mistakes, 
but their parents are satisfied with 
their goodwill and loving help. 

Little Tyrant. By S. J. Adair Fitz¬ 
Gerald. 2 Males; 1 Female. Scene 
a. Room. Two brothers have a bad 
time with a little tyrant, their sister. 
They threaten to tell their parents, 
but she manages to pacify them. 

Magic Kiss. By L. Debenham. S 
Males; 1 Female. Scene, a Glade. 
Written in verse. Prince Maximus and 
his two friends, Lorenzo and Claude, 
are turned by magic into hideous 
dwarfs, and can only be freed by a 
maiden kissing each by her own free 
will. Violet appears, and hearing 
their story, and wishing to do good, 
kisses them. They then appear in 
their former state, and the Prince 
offers his hand to Violet. 


The Magrician and the Ring-. By 

F D. Adams. Scene, a Room; 3 
Males; 2 Females. The Lady Trevor 
has lost a valuable ring. She seeks 
the aid of a magician to find it. He 
discovers that the servants have taken 
it, and is enabled to restore it to her. 

A Midsummer Frolic. By F D 

Adams. Scene, a Wood; 2 Males; 2 
remales. Percy believes in fairies. 
His companions play a trick upon 
him dressing up and making him 
trunk he is on enchanted ground. 


ivi msirei or Prince? By L. Deben¬ 
ham. 1 Male; 1 Female. Scene, a 
Harden. Written in Verse. Picture 
Costumes. Princess Violetta’B father 
desires that she should marry Prince 
r erdinand, but this the lady resents 
as she does not know the Prince. Th<. 
tatter disguises himself as a minstrel 
visits the Princess, and having gained 
Aer affections, discloses his identity 


children’s plays, 


177 ' 


Mistress and Man. By L. Deben- 
ham. 1 Male; 1 Female. Scene, a 
Room. Written in Verse. My Lady, 
finding her new footman, John, pur¬ 
loins her wine, etc., gets her brother, 
a ventriloquist, to watch through the 
keyhole. Each time John is about to 
steal, he hears an unknown voice re- 
roaching him. Believing the voice to 
e supernatural, he confesses to his 
mistress, and promises to amend. 

Prince or Peasant. By F. D. 
Adams. Scene, a Road; 2 Males; 2 
Females. Prince Claud has been be¬ 
trothed in infancy to Princess Brenda, 
but the prince, tired of Court cere¬ 
monies, disguises himself as a peasant, 
in order to seek someone of sterling 
worth in humble life. The princess 
does the same; they meet and ex¬ 
change rings, and afterwards, in their 
Court attire, mutual recognition takes 
place, and they are united. 

Princess Marguerite’s Choice. 
By F. D. Adams. Scene, a Room; 5 
Males; 3 Fema’es. The Princess Mar¬ 
guerite is visited by various knights to 
solicit her hand in marriage. They 
offer her wealth, power, and valour, 
but her choice rests upon Sir Inno¬ 
cent, who can only offer her a spotless 
name and a loving heart. 

Sleepers Awakened. By F. D. 
Adams. Scene, a Room; 3 Males; 3 
Females. Abou Hassan, the Sultan’s 
favourite, and his wife Nouzhatoul 
have no money. In order to obtain it, 
Abou informs the Sultan that his wife 
is dead, while Nouzhatoul tells 
Zobeide, the Sultan’s wife, that her 
husband is dead. The Sultan and his 
wife quarrel as to which is deceased, 
and come to find the truth, whereupon 
Abou and Nouzhatoul both pretend to 
be lifeless. The Sultan offering a 
thousand gold pieces to know which 
died first, Abou jumps up and claims 
the reward. The Sultan is so pleased 
with their joke that he forgives them. 

Snowwhite. By F. D. Adams. Scene, 
a Room; 4 Males; 2 Females. The 
queen is jealous of Snowwhite’s beauty, 
and instructs a servant to take her 
into the wood and slay her. The ser¬ 


vant pretends this has been done, and 
Snowwhite falls into the hands of the 
dwarfs. The queen’s magic glass tell¬ 
ing her that Snowwhite still lives, she 
dresses in disguise, and twice attempts 
to poison her stepdaughter. Her 
plans are frustrated, she repents, and 
Snowwhite is united to Prince Flori- 
mel. 

Three Fairy Gifts. By F. D. Adams. 

Scene, a Wood; 2 Males; 6 Females. 
A fairy queen grants a gift to each of 
three maidens, Cynthia, Violet, and 
Vera. The first chooses wealth, the 
second beauty, while Vera desires the 
power to make others happy. Cynthia 
and Violet are led into trouble by 
their gifts, and beseech the fairy to 
take them away, but Vera is the means 
of teaching them how they should pro¬ 
fit by their good fortune. 

Two Chums. By L. Debenham. 2 
Males. Scene, either indoor or out. 
Written in Verse. A master has de¬ 
sired two boys to be chums. They 
both demur. One wants to be friends 
with a boy named Bruiser he has 
heard about, and the other with a boy 
named Wicket. These happen to be 
their respective nicknames, so their 
master’s and their own desires are 
fulfilled. 

Two Princesses. By L. Debenham. 
1 Male; 3 Females. Scene, a Garden. 
Written in Verse. A queen desires her 
haughty daughter to marry Prince 
Florizel. The Prince arrives disguised 
as an old beggar-man, and receives 
such rough treatment from the daugh¬ 
ter that he selects her younger sister, 
who had sympathised with him. 

When I’m a Man. By S. J. Adair 

FitzGerald. 2 Males. Scene, a Room. 
Tom hates school, and wishes he were 
a man. He has a conversation with 
his schoolfellow, Harry, who induces 
him to see everything in a better light. 

When I’m Grown Up. By S. J. Adair 

FitzGerald. 2 Females. Scene, a 
Room. Two schoolgirls have an ani¬ 
mated conversation as to what would 
be their desires when they were grown 
up. 


The One-Act Plays: Backward Child, Holly Tree Inn, Wally 
and the Widow, and The Man who Stole the Castle 

contain good children’s parts. For description, see Index. 


178 


FAIBT AND 


nOilE PLATS, 


FAIRY AND HOME PLAYS. 

Price 15c each. 

If the scenes could not be managed in the following pieces, it will be found 
a good plan to dress a child up as a Fairy, and let her bring on a board de¬ 
scribing each scene before it commences. 

This method was used in the days of Queen Elizabeth, when Shakespeare’* 
plays were first performed. 

The music can be had on hire. 


Aladdin. (Fairy Extravaganza.) 2 
Acts, by Miss Keating. Time, 1 hour 
10 min. 5 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 
9 Males; 2 Females. Written in verse. 

AM Baba. (Fairy Extravaganza.) 2 
Acts. By Miss Keating. Time, 1 hour 
15 min. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior Scenes; 
9 Males; 4 Females. Written in verse. 

Alice in Wonderland. (Charade.) 
Time, 1 hour 30 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 5 Males; 7 Females. Adapted 
from the well-known fairy tale. 

Babes in the Wood and Bold 
Robin Hood. By E. P. Medley. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 7 Males; 2 Females. Written 
in verse. 

Beauty and the Beast. (Fairy Ex¬ 
travaganza.) 1 Act. By Miss Keating. 
Time, 1 hour. 4 Interior, 3 Exterior 
Scenes; 4 Males; 4 Females. Written 
in verse. This is about the best of the 
Fairy Series, requiring few impersona¬ 
tors, and is not difficult to manage. 

Bear and Forbear. A trifle adapted 
from the German. By George Bell. 
Time, 20 min. 1 Room Scene; 3 
Males; 3 Females. This is an amusing 
little story, written in prose, and was 
translated by the author for his own 
children. Plot same as Obstinate 
Family. See Iddex. 

Blue Beard. (Serio-comic Oriental 
Romance.) 1 Act. By Bishop Heber. 
Time, 35 min. 2 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 4 Males; 2 Females. This 
van be well recommended, and is much 
patronised. Written in verse. Easily 
managed and well constructed. 

Blue Beard. (Extravaganza.) 2 Acts. 
By Miss Keating. Time, 1 hour. 3 
Interior Scenes; 6 Males; 5 Females. 
Written in verse. Very easy to get up, 
and often played. 

Cinderella. (Fairy Drama.) 1 Act. 
By Miss Keating. Time, 45 min. 2 
Interior Scenes; 6 Males; 4 Females. 
Written in verse. 

Dick Whittington. By Clarence G. 
Dyall. Time, 2 hours. 1 Interior. 2 
Exterior Scenes; 6 Males; 4 Female®. 
Written in verse. 


Fairyland. (Fairy Extravaganza.) 1 
Act. By Alfred Paxton. Time, 1 hour. 

2 Interior Scenes and a front curtain; 
6 Males; '3 Females. Written in verse. 
Very popular little play with children. 
It is pretty, and can be well recom¬ 
mended. 

Funny Facts and Foolish Fancies. 

(An Entertainment to be given by a 
Boy and a Girl.) By Alfred Paxton. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene. This 
is a capital little trifle, written in prose, 
and songs introduced. 

Hearty Party. (Fairy Play.) 1 Act. 
By E. P. Medley. Time, 1 hour. 2 
Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 6 Males, 

3 Females. Written in verse. 

H ouse that Jack Built. (Fairy 
Play.) 1 Act. By E. P. Medley. 
Time, 30 min. 1 Interior Scene; 6 
Males; 1 Female. Written in verse. 

Jack and the Beanstalk. (Fairy 
Extravaganza.) 1 Act. By William 
Hudson. Time, 65 min. 1 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scene; 2 Males; 3 Females 
Written in verse, and easily managed. 

King Christmas. (Fairy Masqurrade.) 
1 Act. By Catherine Tudor. Time, 25 
min. This play may be acted easily 
in a drawing-room by either 6 Girls 
or 6 Boys. It would be very suitable 
for a Christmas entertainment. 

Little Nut Tree. (Fairy Play.) 2 
Acts. By Annie Dymond and Blanche 
Penley. Time, 45 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Males; 3 Females. An ex¬ 
cellent little play, with a solid plot. 
Written in verse. 

Little Red Riding Hood. (Fairy 

Burlesque.) 1 Act. By Miss Keating. 
Time, 1 hour 15 min. 2 Interior. 8 
Exterior Scenes; 5 Males; 8 Females. 
Written in verse. 

Mistletoe Bough. (Pantomime.) 
Time, 25 min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes. This can be performed by any 
number of children. All the characters 
act in dumb show. The story is taken 
from the well-known ballad of Henry 
R. Bishop. 


TAIRT ABTD 


HOME PLATS 


179 


Nurseryrhymia. (Christmas Play.) 
By Alfred Paxton. Time, 45 min. 1 
Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 5 Males; 
8 Females. This is undoubtedly the 
most successful Play in the series. It 
has been greatly patronised as a good 
piece to be performed during the holi¬ 
days. Many of the familiar nursery 
characters and songs are introduced. 

Nursery Pastoral. (Christmas Play 
for Children.) By Alfred Paxton. 
Time, 50 min. 1 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 7 Males; 3 Females. This is 
another of the Author’s successful 
Plays, and would do admirably when 
Nurseryrhymia has already been pro¬ 
duced. As in that play, it introduces 
many nursery characters and rhymes. 

Pretty Princess and the Prickly 
Pear. 2 Acts. By S. J. Adair-Fitz- 
gerald. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 1 
Interior, 1 Fxterior Scene; 5 Males; 5 
Females. Written in verse. 

Prince Nysey Nosey. (Fairy Extra¬ 
vaganza.) 1 Act. By Miss Keating. 
Time, 40 min. 1 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Males; 3 Females. This is a 
very easy fairy play written in verse. 

Puss in Boots. (Fairy Extiava unza.) 
1 Act. By Miss Keating. Time, 1 
hour 15 min. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 11 Males; 6 Females. 
Written in verse. 

Rumpelstiltskin. (Extravaganza.) 1 
, A ct. By M. W. Hallett.. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 
4 Males; 3 Females. Written in 
verse. 

Sleeping- Beauty. (Fairy Extrava¬ 
ganza). 2 Acts. By Miss Keating. 
Time, 1 hour 15 min. 6 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 5 Males; 8 Females. 
Written in verse. 


Ten Dancing Princesses. (Fairy 

Extravaganza).. 1 Act. By L. 
Debenham. Time, 45 min. 1 Scene, 
woodland. 1 Male; 13 Females. 
Written in verse. Plenty of simple 
songs are introduced, the music all 
being well-known popular airs. 

Toy Shop. (Drama for Children.) 1 
Act. By F. S. Isham and Edward 
Weitzel. Time. 45 min. Scene: A 
Toy Shop. Number of Characters 
required is discretionary. A number 
of Children have to dress up as Toys 
and hold a conversation. Written in 
prose. Songs and Chorus introduced. 

Unhappy Princess. (Extravaganza.) 
By Amy Levy. 2 Interior Scenes; 3 
Males; 4 Females. Written in verse. 

Waxworks’ Revels. (Christmas Ex¬ 
travaganza). 1 Act. By William 
Ileighway. Time, 45 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 6 Males; 5 Fema'es. 
Partly verse, partly prose. Describes 
the revels Mrs. Jarley’s waxworks 
delight in after the performance. 

Wearing of the Green. (Irish Fairy 
Extravaganza). 1 Act. By S. J. 
Adair-FitzGerald. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Exterior Scene; 2 Males; 11 Females. 
Any number of characters may be in¬ 
troduced as chorus. Written in 
verse. All the music is in well-known 
Irish melodies. 

White Cat. (Fairy Extravaganza.) 1 
Act. By Miss Keating. Time, 35 
min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
5 Malep; 5 Females. Written in 

verse. Short at 1 easily managed. 

Yellow Dwarf, d dry Extravaganza.' 
1 Act. By Miss Keating. Time, 1 
hour 10 min. 2 Interior, 4 Exterio- 
Scenes; 6 Males; 7 Females. Written 
in verse. 


JUVENILE PLAYS FOR HOME 
PERFORMANCE. 

Sold in One Volume at 15c., and contains 


King Alfred. (Drama.) 1 Act. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Cottage Scene; 
4 Males; 2 Females. A short, easy 
little historical piece, written in prose 
and verse. 

Bluebeard. (Tragedy.) 2 Acts. By 
Lord Francis Egerton. Time, 25 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 5 Males; 
2 Females. This is also a short, easy 
piece, written in verse. 

Jack and the Beanstalk. This is 

the same as described above. 

Old Poz. (Comic Drama.) By Maria 
Edgeworth. Modern Costume. Time, 
25 mm. 1 Interior Scene;. 3 Males; 
2 Females. An old man visits Justice 
Headstrong, complaining that he has 


been robbed. Headstrong vows he is 
not telling the truth, and # is about 
to commit him, when it is proved 
that tne money has been stolen by a 
magpie. 

Organ Grinder. (Comic Drama.) 1 
Act. By Maria Edgeworth. Modern 
Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Males; 6 Females. Cousin 
Brown, desiring to find out which of 
his cousins it would be desirable to 
live with, disguises as an old organ 
grinder, and the kind treatment he 
receives from one cousin compared 
with the disdain he encounters with 
the other decides him upon which 
course he will pursue. 


180 


CHARADES 


CHARADES. 

The Series of Charades will be found exceedingly well adapted _ for 
Family Performances, as they are shorter than any play; and from the variety 
of incidents and characters (each Syll able, of course, forming the ground-work 
of the plot, and being an entire little drama) they afford opportunities for 
the enlistment of all ages in the dram .tis person®. 

They are sold in parts at 40c. each. 


COMIC CHARADES, BY STANLEY 

ROGERS. 


Part I. Contains: — 

Plaintiff. Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 3 Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Crumpet. Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 5 Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Locksmith. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Ladies; 2 Gentlemen. 

Postmark. Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 5 Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Marriage. Time, 1 hour. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Stage Struck. Time, 1 hour. 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 3 Gentle¬ 
men. 


Pairt II. Contains: — 

Midnight. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Ladies; 4 Gentlemen. 

Blindfold. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Genteel. Time, 1 hour. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 3 Ladies; 2 Gentlemen. 

Miserable. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 2 Ladies; 6 Gentlemen. 

Dressmaking. Time, 1 hour. 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 4 Ladies; 3 Gentle¬ 
men. 


DHARADE DRAMAS FOR THE DRAWING 
ROOM, BY MISS KEATING. 


Part I. Contains: — 

Bluebeard. Modern and Eastern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 3 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 3 Ladies; 5 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Phaeton. Modern and Classical Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 2 Interior, 2 
Exterior Scenes; 4 Ladies; 4 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Cataline. Modern and Classical Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 35 min. 2 Exterior, 1 
Interior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 8 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Guy Fawkes. Fancy Costume. Time, 
20 min. 2 Interior and 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 3 Ladies; 6 Gentlemen. 


Part II. Contains: — 
Counterplot. Modern and French 

Costume, Period 1770. Time, 1 hour. 
3 Interior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 7 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Blindfold. French and German Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 45 min. 3 Interior 
Scenes; 4 Ladies; 4 Gentlemen. 

Outlaw. Modern Costume. Time, i® 
min. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 Ladies; 4 
Gentlemen. 

Sleeping Draught. Fancy Costume. 
Time, 50 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 3 
Ladies; 4 Gentlemen. 


CHARADE PLAYS FOR THE PARLOUR. 
BY MISS KEATING. 

Part I. Contains:— Part II. Contains: — 


Banditti. Modern Costume. Time, 45 
min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 7 
Gentlemen. 

Inspector. Modern Costume. Time, 
35 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 3 Ladies; 
4 Gentlemen. 

Aladdin. Modern and Eastern Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 50 min. 2 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 8 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Nightmare. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 3 Interior Scenes: 3 Ladies: 
4 Gentlemen. 


Nightingale. Modern Costume. Tima, 
1 hour. 4 Interior Scenes; 3 Ladies; 

5 Gentlemen. 

Matchlock. Modern Costume and of 
Louis Quinze Period. Time, 1 hour. 
1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 6 Ladies; 

6 Gentlemen- 

Rebellion. Modern Costume, and Ger¬ 
man of 1715 Period. Time, 1 hour 10 
min. 3 Interior Scenes; 4 Ladies; 4 
Gentlemen. 


CHARADES 


181 


CHARADES BY MISS PICKERING. 


Homely. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
mm. Drawing-room Scene; 2 Ladies; 
3 Gentlemen. 

Backbiting;. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 mm. 2 Exterior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 
3 Gentlemen. 

Candidate. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 mm. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
2 Ladies; 8 Gentlemen; 1 Child. 


CHARADES BY 

Outrage. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Interior, 1 Exterior Scene; 4 
Ladies; 5 Gentlemen. 

Courtship. Modern Costume. Time, 
40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Ladies; 5 
Gentlemen. 

Plaintiff.. Modern Costume. Time, 
30 min. 3 Interior Scenes; 4 Ladies; 
5 Gentlemen. 


CHARADE DRAMAS 

Woodman. Fancy Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Ladies; 2 
Gentlemen. 

Kenilworth. Modern and Elizabethan 
Costume. Time, 40 min. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 5 Ladies; 7 Gentlemen. 


Mistake. Modern Costume. Time, 35 
min. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 2 
Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 

Final. Modern Costume. Time, 40 
min. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 3 
Ladies; 3 Gentlemen. 


H. W. SMITH. 

Coastguard. Modern Costume. Time, 
20 min. 2 Interior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 
2 Gentlemen. 

Counterplot. Modern and Fancy 
Costume. Time, 35 min. 1 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scene; 3 Ladies; 3 Gentle¬ 
men. 

Blue Beard. Fancy Costume. Time, 
15 min. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Ladies; 
4 Gentlemen. 


BY MISS FRANCIS. 

Chapeau. French Costume. 1792. 
Time, 15 min 1 Interior Scene; 2 
Ladies; 2 Gentlemen. 

Chatterbox. Modern and Classical 
Costume. Time, 30 min. 2 Interior, 1 
Exterior Scenes; 2 Ladies; 3 Gentle¬ 
men. 


CHARADES IN ACTION BY THE 
BROTHERS MAYHEW. 

Plays without words, containing thirty charades, with each scene illustrated. 
«• that the most prominent characteristics may be easily represented. 


183 


SENSATION SERIES 


SENSATION SERIES. 

These are very short burlesques, and would be found suitable for fetes, etc. 
They could be lengthened if required by popular comic airs and topical songs. 
The female characters are usually impersonated by gentlemen. 


Alice, the Mystery. By J. Smith. 

Time, 15 min. 1 Exterior Scene: 4 
Males; 1 Female. Alice is a mystery. 
She has been brought up by Adam, 
who rescued her when a babe from a 
shipwreck. She is discovered to be 
the daughter of the Duke of Finsbury. 

Blazing- Burgee. By T. G-. Bowles. 
Time, 15 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 3 
Males; 1 Female. Ben the Brave 
rescues his Polly from Scarlet Rover. 

Braganzio the Brigand. By Famar 
Hall. Time, 30 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 3 Males; 1 Female. Braganzio 
the Brigand saves Bettina from the 
hands of the wicked Count Roderigo 
Piffleczski. 

Domestic Hearthstone. By J. 

Smith. Time, 12 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 3 Males; 1 Female. Marie 
Primrose in defending herself from 
Lord Mangle shoots her father and her 
lover, William Turniptop. She then 
takes poison and dies. 

More Than Ever. By Arthur Matthi- 
son. Time. 20 min. 1 Interior Scene; 
6 Males; 1 Female. Sir Crimson Fluid 
is beloved by Lady Aqua Toffeana for 
his crimes. He has already removed 
four wives and she has destroyed two 
husbands. Poison no longer interests 
them, and forgery has lost its charm. 
All the characters are killed or com¬ 
mit suicide in this play, and are dis¬ 
covered in the end laid out in a row. 


Port Admiral. By T. G. Bowles. 

Time, 20 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 4 
Males; 1 Female. Lord Othemanor 
wishes to marry Susan, daughter of 
Giles, who cannot pay his rent, when 
Susan’s sailor lover returns and proves 
himself to be the owner of the estate. 

Pretty Jane. By J. Smith. Time, 15 

min. 1 Exterior Scene; 5 Males; 2 
Females. Robin the Ploughman 
returns after seven years’ penal servi¬ 
tude to find the wicked squire has 
stolen his pretty Jane. Jane slays 
the squire and the ploughman inherits 
10,000 acres. 

Rosebud of Stingingnettle Farm. 

By H. J. Byron. Time, 15 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 4 Males; 1 Female. 
Squire Slapdash makes love to Rose, 
and being rejected, seizes her, when 
she is rescued by her lover. Giles. The 
Squire endeavours to get Hugly to kill 
Giles, but Hugly discovers Rose to be 
his own daughter and the Squire com¬ 
mits suicide. 

Rupert the Reckless. 3 Acts. By 

Kathleen Fitzpatrick. Time, 45 min. 
1 Exterior, 1 Interior Scene; 2 Males; 
3 Females. Rupert the Reckless robs 
Lady MacBattervalve and afterwards 
discovers she is his own mother. 

Tyrant Slave: The Victim and the 
Tar. Time, 10 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 4 Males; 1 Female. A skit on 
Uncle Tom’s Cabin. A British Tar 
protects Uncle Tom and Eliza, and 
their persecutors commit suicide. 


Byron’s Sensation Dramas for 
the Back Drawing Room. This 
is a shilling book containing 14 very 
sensational Dramas, with 48 comic 
illustrations. 


Burlesque Dramas. By Robert B. 
Brough. This is another shilling book, 
consisting of Christmas piece* for 


private representation, and other 
seasonable matter in prose and verse. 
There are 3 Burlesque Dramas, Alfred 
the Great; 3 Males; 1 Female. 
William Tell; 7 Male Character*, 
Orpheus and Eurydice; 5 Males; 1 
Female. The rest of the work is com¬ 
posed of recitations, comic songs, and 
other subjects most suitable for private 
entertainments. 



LIST OF FAVOURITE OLD COMEDIES. 


183 


LIST OF FAVOURITE OLD COMEDIES 


M. F. 

Beaux’ Stratagem. 6 Acta. 

By G. Farquhar. 10—5 

Belle’s Stratagem. 3 Acts. 

By Hannah Cowley. 17—6 

Bold Stroke for a Husband. 

5 Acts. By Mrs. Cowley. 8—7 

Bold Stroke for a Wife. 6 

Acts. By Mrs. Centlivre. 10—3 

Busy Body. 3 Acts. By S. Cent¬ 
livre. 7—4 

Clandestine Marriage. 6 

Acts. By J. Coleman and D. 
Garrick. 9—3 

Country Girl. 5 Acts. Altered 

by D. Garrick. 7—3 

Cure for the Heartache. 8 

Acts. By T. Morton. 16—3 

Every Man in his Humour. 6 

Acts. By Ben Jonson. 13—3 

Everyone has his Fault. 6 

Acts. By Mrs. Inchbald. 13--4 

Good-natured Man. 5 Acts. 

By Oliver Goldsmith. 12—5 

Heir at Law, 5 Acts. By G. 

Coleman, jun. 10—3 

Honeymoon. 5 Acts. By John 

Toben. 8—4 

Hunchback. 5 Acts. By J. S. 
Knowles. 16—2 

Jealous Wife. 3 Acts. By Geo. 

Colman. 12—6 


M. F. 

John Bull. 3 Acts. By J. Col¬ 
man. 14—3 

Laugh when you can. 5 Acts. 

By F. Reynolds. 10—4 

Love Chase. 6 Acts. By J. S. 

Knowles. 10—7 

Man of the World. 6 Acts. 

By Charles Macklin. 10—5 

New Way to Pay Old Debts. 

6 Acts. By P. Massinger. 20—5 

Poor Gentleman. 3 Acts. By 

G. Colman. 11—4 

Paul Pry. 3 Acts. By J. Poole. 

Is. 11-4 

Provoked Husband. "• 6 Acts. 

By Sir J. Vanbrugh and Colley 
Cibber. 10—7 

Rivals. 5 Acts. By R. B. Sheri¬ 
dan. . 8—4 

Road to Ruin. 6 Acts. By T. 

Hoi croft. 19—6 

School for Scandal. 5 Acts. 

By R. B. Sheridan. 17—5 

She w^uld and she wouldn’t. 

5 Acts. By Colley Cibber. 15—4 

She Stoops to Conquer. 3 

Acts. By O. Goldsmith. 16—4 

Speed the Ploug-h. 3 Acts. By 

Thomas Morton. 11—4 

Wild Oats. 6 Acts. By John 
O’Keeffe. 17—3 


PLAYS SN WHICH A MALE PART ASSUMES 
VARIOUS CHARACTERS. 


Net to be Done. See Index. 

That Affair at FiRchley. „ 

Widow’s Victim. m 

Rifle Volunteers. „ 


Snapping: Turtles. 
Doing: My Uncle. 
Dentist’s Clerks. 


lee Index, 


PLAYS IN WHICH A FEMALE PART ASSUMES 
VARIOUS CHARACTERS. 


Angelina’s Lover See Index. 

Bachelor’s Buttons. „ 

Four Sisters. „ 

Twice Married. „ 

That Affair at Finchley. „ 

Rifle Volunteers. m 


Snapping: Turtles. See Index. 

Day in Paris. „ 

Little Anne’s Birthday. N 

Old and Young:. „ 

Our Aunt from California. m 


184 


PLATS WHICH REQUIRE ONE SCENE THROUGHOUT, 


PLAYS WHICH REQUIRE ONE 
SCENE THROUGHOUT. 


For full description of plays below, 
proceed accordingly. 

IN TWO ACTS. 

Browne with an “ E.” 3 m. 3 f. 

Exterior. 

Chimney Corner. 5 m., 2 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Daddy Hardacre. 4 m., 2 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Elopement. 4 m M 3 f. Exterior. 

First Mate. 6 m., 4 f. Interior. 
Friend in Need. 7 m., 3 f. Interior. 
Good for Evil. 3 m., 3 f. Interior. 

Happiest Day of my Life. 7 m., 

7 f. Interior. 

Hearts of Oak. 5 m., 2 f. Interior. 
Irish Attorney. 8 m., 2 f. Interior. 
Match-Maker. 6 m., 5 f. Interior. 
Money Spinner. 5 m., 3 f. Interior. 
My Wife’s Mother. 4 m., 3 f. Interior. 
Neighbours. 5 m., 3 f. Exterior. 

Old Story. 5 m., 5 f. Interior. 

Queer Street. 4 m.. 2 f. Interior. 
Shadows of the Past. 4 m., 3 f 
Interior. 

Shameful Behaviour. 5 m., 3 f. 

Interior. 

Snowdrift. 9 m., 2 f. Exterior. 

Test of Truth. 10 m., 2 f. Interior. 

IN THREE ACTS. 

Alone. 4 m., 3 f. Exterior. 

Arabian Nights. 4 m., 3 f. Interior. 
Balloon. 6 m., 4 f. Interior. 

Bird in the Hand. 10 m., 3 f. In¬ 
terior. ^ 

Bookmaker. 8 m., 4 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

Brixton Burglary. 6 m., 4 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Broken Hearts. 2 m., 3 f. Exterior. 
Confusion. 6 m., 4 f. Interior. 

Does He Love Me? 7 m., 3 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Extremes. 8 m., 6 f. Interior. 
Facing the Music. 6 m., 4 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Foundling. 6 m., 6 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

Grey Mare. 8 m., 4 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

His Little Dodge. 4 m., 2 1 See 

MS. plays. 

Home. 4 m., 3 f. Interior. 

Home, Sweet Home. 6 m., 2 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Jane. 6 m. t 4 f. Interior. 


ascertain number of page in index and 

Judge. 6 m., 4 f. Interior. See MS. 
plays. 

Kleptomania. 6 m., 5 f. Interior. 
Ladies’ Battle. 5 m., 2 f. Interior. 

Lata Mr. Castello. 4 m., 3 f. In 

terior. 

Little Intruder. 6 m., 4 f. Interior. 

See MS. plays. 

Loose Tiles. 7 m., 4 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

Lucky Dog. 8 m., 4 f. Interior. Set 

MS. plays. 

Lucky Miss Dean. 4m.,2f. Interior. 
Oh! Susannah! 5 m., 6 f. Interior. 

Open House. 5 m., 4 f. Interior 

Scenes. See MS. plays. 

Our Flat. 7 m., 5 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

Pair of Spectacles. 8 m., 3 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Parvenu. 4 m., 3 f. Exterior. 

Poor Old Perkins. 5 m., 6 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Professor. 5 m., 4 f. Interior. See 

MS. plays. 

Pygmalion and Galatea. 5 m., 4 t 

Interior. 

Robin Goodfellow. 5 m., 5 f. In¬ 
terior. See MS. plays. 

Roundhead. 5 m., 2 f. Interior. 
Snowball. 4 m., 3 f. Interior. 

Snug Little Kingdom. 3 m., 4 f. 

Interior. 

Sweet Lavender. 3 m., 4 f. In¬ 
terior. 

Three Hats. 5 m., 4 f. Interior. 
Time Will Tell. 8 m., 2 f. Interior. 
Times. 6 m., 7 f. Interior. 

Upper Crust. 5 m., 3 f. Interior. 

See MS. plays. 

Uncle. 4 m., 3 f. Interior. 

Walker, London. 5 m., 5 f. Exterior. 

See MS. plays. 

Wicked World. 3 m., 6 I. Exterior. 
Wisdom of Folly. 5 m., 3 f. Interior. 
Wrinkles. 6 m., 2 f. Interior. 

IN FOUR ACTS. 

Magda. 4 m., 7 f. Interior. See MS. 

Marriage of Convenience. 7 

2 f. Interior. 

Young Mrs. Winthrop. 5 m.. 4 L 

Interior. 


PASTORAL PLATS 


185 


PASTORAL PLAYS. 


The following plays can, without exception, quite easily be performer! 
in an ordinary garden. Those marked thus * must be acted 
by the side of a house, with entrance into same. For full description, 
look up number of page upon which they are to be found, in the index at 
the commencement of the book, and proceed accor dingly 

IN ONE ACT, 


•Atchi. 3 m., 2 f. 

•April Fool. 4 m., 1 f. 

•Bearding: the Lion. 2 m., 8 1 
•Bed of Roses. 4 m., 2 f. 

Bird in the Bush. 2 f. 

Dandelion’s Dodges. 4 m., 2 f. 
•Day After the Fair. 4 m., 1 f. 
Declined With Thanks. 5 m., 3 f. 
Diamond Cut Diamond. 6 m., 1 f. 
•Duchess of Bayswater. 4 m., 2 f. 

Elsie’s Rival. 3 m., 1 f. (Riverside 

Scene.) 

•Faint Heart Did Win a Fair Lady. 

3 m., 1 f. 

Going: to the Derby. 4 m., 4 f. 
•Harvest Storm. 9 m., 1 f. 
•Helpless Couple. 3 f. 

Hester’s Mystery. 3 m M 2 f. (Farm 

Scene.) 

Hunting: a Turtle. 6 m., 1 L 
•Journey’s End. 3 m., 2 f. 

•King: Rene’s Daughter. 6 m., 2 t 
•Lesson in Harmony. 2 m., 1 f. 
•Midsummer Day. 3 m., 5 f. 
•Mischief Making:. 4 m., 6 L 
•Old Garden. 2 m., 2 f. 

On An Island. 1 m., 1 f. 

•Once Again. 2 m., 1 f. 

Orange Blossoms. 3 m., 8 f. 
•Peggy Green. 3 m., 10 f. 

Poor Pillicoddy. 2 m., 3 L 


•Postscript. 2 m., 2 f. 

Punctured. 1 m., 1 f. 

Ruth’s Romance. 2 m., 1 f. 
Setting: of the Sun. 2 m., 2 f. 
Sympathy. 1 m., 1 f. 

Take Care of Dowb. 4 m., 3 f. 

*Thirty-Three Next Birthday. 

4 m., 2 f. 

Thumping: Legacy. 7 m., 1 f. 

•Through the Fire. 4 m., 3 f. 

Trials of Tompkins. 3 m., 2 f. 

Twenty Minutes Under an 

Umbrella. 1 m., 1 f. 

Up a Tree. 4 m., 2 f. 

•Village Nightingale. 6 m„ 2 L 

•Who’s to Win Him? 3 m., 6 f. 

Winning: Hazard. 3 m., 2 f. 

Withered Leaves. 4 m., 2 t 

•Women’s Rights. 8 m., 2 f. 

Written in Sand. 8 m., 2 f. 

IN TWO ACTS. 

•Browne with an *' E.” 8 m., 8 1 
•First Mate. 6 m M 4 f. 
•Neighbours. 5 m., 3 f. 
•Sweethearts. 2 m., 2 L 

IN THREE ACTS. 

•Alone. 4 m., 3 f. 

Broken Hearts. 2 m., 4 1 
•One Summer’s Day. 7 m., 6 t 
Parvenu. 4 m., 3 f. 

•Randall’s Thumb. 8 nu, 4 1 


186 


BURLESQUES, FAIRY PLAYS AND EXTRAVAGANZAS 


BURLESQUES, FAIRY PLAYS, AND 
EXTRAVAGANZAS. 


Acis and Galatsea. 1 Act. By F. 

C. Burnand. 5 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scenes; 8 Males; 2 Females. 

Acis and Galatsea. 1 Act. By 

Thomas F. Plowman. 1 Interior, 3 
Exterior Scenes; 7 Males; 2 Females. 
An eass- Burlesque. (Pianoforte music 
on hire.) 

Aladdin, or the Wonderful 

Scamp. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 5 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 9 Males; 
1 Female. The most popular of Mr. 
Byron’s burlesques amongst amateurs. 
(Pianoforte and Band parts on hire.) 

Ali Baba. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 
3 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 8 
Males; 4 Females. Very popular and 
a favourite amongst amateur clubs. 
(Pianoforte and Band parts on hire.) 

Alonzo, the Brave. 1 Act. By F. C. 
Burnand. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 9 Males- 2 Females. Very 
popular play with Amateurs. (Piano¬ 
forte and Band parts on hire.) 

Babes in the Wood. 1 Act. By H. 
J. Byron. 3 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 8 Males; 3 Females. (Piano 
music on hire.) 

Belle of the Barley Mow. 1 Act. 
By H. T. Arden. 2 Exterior Scenes; 
3 Males; 1 Female. A short, easy, 
and amusing burlesque. (Wood Scene.) 

Black-Eyed Susan. (Burlesque.) 1 
Act. By F. C. Burnand. 1 Interior, 
5 Exterior Scenes; 15 Males; 5 Fe¬ 
males. Very popular burlesque. 
(Pianoforte and Band parts on hire.) 

Blossom of Churnington Green. 

1 Act. By F. R. Hoskins. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 7 Males; 1 Female. This is a 
burlesque drama, and very suitable for 
amateurs. 

Blue Beard. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 

2 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 6 Males; 

3 Females. (Pianforte and Band parts 
on hire.) 

Blue Beard Repaired. 1 Act. By 
H. Bellingham. 1 Exterior, 3 Interior 
Scenes; 8 Males; 8 Females. (Piano¬ 
forte music on hire.) 

Bombastes Furioso. 1 Act. By 
William Barnes Rhodes. 2 Interior, 2. 
Exterior Scenes; 5 Males; I Female. 
This is a very old burlesque, and a 
great favourite among amateur circles. 
The scenery is not extensive, and the 
dresses and situations are. very comical. 
(Pianoforte and Band parts on hirt.) 


Bride of Abydos. 1 Act. By H. J. 

Byron. 4 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 
8 Males; 4 Females. 

Brown and tho Brahmins. 1 Act. 

By R. Reece. 4 Exterior Scenes; 9 
Males; 2 Females. This is a bur¬ 
lesque on the well-known play of “ Il¬ 
lustrious Stranger.” (Pianoforte musio 
on hire.) 

Chang-Chir.g-Fou. 1 Act. By W. 
Martin. 2 Interior, 1 Exterior Scenes; 
8 Males; 3 Females. An easy bur¬ 
lesque. (Pianoforte music on hire.) 

Chrononhotonthologos. 1 Act. By 
Robert Carey. 5 Interior, 1 Exterior 
Scenes; 11 Males; 5 Females. This is 
an old burlesque after the “ Bombas¬ 
tes Furioso” type. 

Cinderella. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 

5 Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 5 Males; 

5 Females. (Pianoforte and Band 
parts on hire.) 

The Corsican “ Bothers.” 1 Act. 

By H. J. Byron. 3 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scenes; 3 Males; 8 Females. 

Conrad and Medora. 1 Act. By 
W. Brough. 7 Exterior Scenes; 6 
Males; 5 Females. 

Cracked Heads. (Burlesque.) 1 Act. 
By A. Clements and F. Hay. Time, 
30 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Males; 
4 Females. This is a burlesque on 
Mr. Gilbert’s “ Broken Hearts.” 

Creatures of Impulse. (Fairy Tale.) 

1 Act. By W. S. Gilbert. Alsatian 
Costume. Time, 50 min. 1 Exterior 
Scene; 4 Ma ] es; 3 Females. This 
little play has been immensely success¬ 
ful. It is highly suitable to amateurs, 
by whom it has been much patronised. 
(Pianoforte music on hire.) 

Eily O’Connor. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Byron. 4 Exterior 2 Interior Scenes; 

6 Males; 3 Females. This is a bur¬ 
lesque on the well-known play of “The 
Colleen Bawn.” 

Esmeralda. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 
4 Extexiox. 2 Interior Scenes; 9 
Males; 4 Females. 

Fair Rosamond. l Act. By F. C. 
Burnand. 1 Interior, 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 8 Males; 4 Females. 

Fair Rosamond’s Bower. 1 Act 

By F. Langbridge. Time, 40 mm. 1 
Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; I Male; 

2 Females. An easy burlesque, inuen 
patronised by amateurs. (Piano¬ 
forte music on hire/ 


BURLESQUES, FAIRY PLAYS AND EXTRAVAGANZAS 


187 


Field of the Cloth of Gold. 1 Act. 

By W. Brough. 4 Fxtcricr, 1 In¬ 
terior Scene. 12 Males; 3 Females. 
A popular burlesque. (Pianoforte 
music on hire.) 

Fra Diavolo. 1 Act. By IT. J. Byron. 

3 Exterior, 2 Interior Scenes; 8 
Males; 2 Females. (Piano and Band 
parts on hire.) 

Green Old Aero. 1 Act. By R. Reece. 

1 Exterior Scene; 8 Males; 4 Females. 
An easy piece, having the advantage of 
one scene. 

Ill-treated il Trovatore. 1 Act. 

By H. J. Byron. 4 Exterior, 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 8 Males; 7 Females. 
(Pianoforte and Band parts on hire.) 

Ivarthoe. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 2 
Exterior. 4 Interior Scenes; 9 Males; 

2 Females. (Pianoforte and Band 
parts on hire.) 

Ixion. 1 Act. By F. C. Burnand. 2 
Interior, 3 Exter or Scenes; 12 Ma ! es; 

6 Females. (Pianoforte and Band 
parts on hire.) 

Jack the Giant Killer. 1 Act By 

H. J. Byron. 3 Exterior, 5 Interior 
Scenes; 7 Males; 5 Females. 

Kenilworth. 1 Act. By A. Halliday 

and F. Lawrance. 5 Exterior; 2 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 9 Males; 3 Females. 
(Pianoforte music on hire.) 

La Sonnambula. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Byron. 1 Inferior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 
8 Males; 5 Females. (Pianoforte and 
Band parts on hire.) 

Lady of Lyons. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Byron. 2 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 

7 Males; 4 Females. (Pianoforte and 
Band parts on hire.) 

Lady of Lyons, Married and 
Settled. 1 Act. By H. C. Merivale. 

1 Exterior. 2 Interior Scenes; 7 Males; 

4 Females. 

Little Don Giovanni. 1 Act. By 
H. J. Byron. 1 Interior; 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 6 Males; 6 Females. 

Little Giselle. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Bvron. 1 Interior; 3 Exterior Scenes; 
7 Males; 9 Females. 

Lord Lovel and Nancy Bell. 2 

Acts. By F. C. Burnand. 2 Interior, 

2 Exterior Scenes. 7 Males; 1 
Female. Very good burlesque, and most 
popular with amateurs. (Pianoforte 
music on hire.) 

Lucia di Lammermoor. 1 Act. By 
H. J. Byron. 2 Interior, 2 Exterior 
Scene*; 6 Males; 2 FemaleB. 

Lucretia Borgia. 1 Act. By L. 
Buckingham. 3 Interior, 4 Exterior 
Scenes; 16 Males; 1 Female. 


Maid and the Magpie. 1 Act. By 
IT. J. Byron. 4 Exterior. 2 Interior 
Scenes; 6 Males; 4 Females. (Piano¬ 
forte and Band parts on hire.) 

Mazeppa. 1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 

2 Exterior. 2 Interior Scenes; 14 
Males; 3 Females. (Pianoforte and 
Band parts on hire.) 

Miller and his Men. 1 Act. By F. 
Talfourd and H. J. Byron. 2 Interior, 
4 Exterior Scenes; 8 Males; 2 
Females. (Pianoforte and Band parts 
on hire.) 

Medea. 1 Act. By R. B. Brottgh. 1 
Exterior. 2 Interior Scenes; 6 Males; 

3 Females. (Pianoforte and Band 
parts on hire.) 

Norma Travestie. 1 Act. By W. 
H. Oxberry. Roman Costume. Time, 
25 min. 1 Interior Scene; 3 Males; 3 
Females. A short easy burlesque. 
(Music on sale.) 

Nymph of the Lurleyberg. 1 Act. 

By H. J. Byron. 2 Extenor; 3 In¬ 
terior Scenes; 9 Males; 4 Females. 

Orpheus and Eurydice. 1 Act. By 
H. J. Byron. 3 Interior, 2 n<xterior 
Scenes; 15 Males; 3 Females 

Patient Penelope. 1 Act. By F. C. 
Burnand. 1 Interior Scene;3 Males; 
1 Female. This is one of the easiest 
and most popular of the short bur¬ 
lesques, as it can be played in one 
room scene. Mr. G. Honey originally 
performed in it. (Pianoforte music on 
hire.) 

Palace of Truth. (Fairy Comedy.) 
3 Acts. By W. S. Gilbert. Period, 
15th century. Time, 2 hours. 2 Ex¬ 
terior, 1 Interior Scene; 6 Males; 5 
Females. This piece has achieved a 
great success; the scene where the 
characters enter the Palace and are 
obliged to speak the truth is very 
amusing. 

Princess Charming. (Fairy Extra¬ 
vaganza.) 1 Act. . By H. T. Arden. 
1 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 5 Males; 
1 Female.. Short and easy. (Piano¬ 
forte music on hire.) 

Pygmalion and Galatea. (Mytho¬ 
logical Comedy.) 3 Acts. By W. S. 
Gilbert. Time, 1 hour 45 min. 1 In¬ 
terior SceneHhroughout; 5 Males; 4 
Females.. This beautiful play has 
been eminently successful, and could 
be performed by high-class dramatic 
clubs. 

Robert Macaire. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Byron. 1 Exterior, 2 Interior Scene*; 
10 Males; 2 Females. 

Robin Hood. 1 Act. By F. C. Bur¬ 
nand. 2 Interior, 3 Exterior Scenes; 
10 Males; .5 Females. (Pianoforte and 
Band music on hire.) 


188 


BURLESQUES, FAIRY PLAYS AND EXTRAVAGANZAS 


Robinson Crusoe. 1 Act. By H. J. 
Byron. 2 Interior, 5 Exterior Scenes; 
16 Males: 3 Females. (Pianoforte 

music on hire.) 

Romulus and Remus. 1 Act. By 
R. Reece. 3 Exterior Scenes; 8 
Males; 2 Females. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 

1 Act. By W. S. Gilbert. See Index. 
Rumplestiltskin. (Amateur.) 1 Act. 
By M. W. Hallett. 1 Interior, 1 Ex¬ 
terior Scene; 4 Males; 3 Females. 
This is adapted entirely for amateurs 
and is very easy. 

Timour the Tartar. 1 Act. By 
John Oxenford and Shirley Brooks. 3 
Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 7 Males; 
3 Females. 

Tom Thumb. Burlesque. 1 Act. By 
Kane O’Hara. 1 Interior Scene; 7 
Males; 5 Females. This is an old 
burlesque of the “Bombastes Furioso” 

4yp*- 


Very Last Days of Pompeii. 1 Act. 

By R. Reece. 2 Exterior 1 Interior 
Scenes; 11 Males: 2 Females. 
Villikins and his Dinah, l Act. By 

F. C. Burn and. 2 Exterior, 1 Interior 
Scenes, but often played with 1 Ex¬ 
terior throughout,; 3 Males: 1 Female. 
This is by far the best of the short 
burlesques, and is most suitable for 
amateurs. (Pianoforte music on hire.) 

Whitting-ton Junior and his Sen¬ 
sation Cat. 1 Act. By R. Reece. 
3 Interior, 2 Exterior Scenes; 12 
Males; 3 Females. (Pianoforte musio 
on hire.) 

William Tell. 1 Act. By Leicester 

Buckingham. 5 Exterior Scenes; 8 

Males; 1 Female. 

William Tell with a Vengeance. 

1 Act. By H. J. Byron. 1 Interior, 4 
Exterior Scenes; 9 Males; 1 Female. 
An easy burlesque. (Pianoforte musio 
on hire.) 




OPERAS 


189 


OPERAS. 


The following operas are published in French’s Acting Edition at 15c. each. 


Barefaced Imposters. (Musical 
Farce.) 1 Act. Turkish Costume. 
Time. 1 hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 4 Low Comedians; 7 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. The 
Paslia’s bear dies, and in order to 
appease him Mustapha and a travel¬ 
ling showman, Bill Stumps, dress up 
in bear skins. They are discovered 
and condemned, when a command 
comes from the Sultan that any favour 
asked by the Englishman shall be 
granted. They are consequently saved. 

Cox and Box. (Operetta.) 1 Act. By 
J. M. Morton and F. C. Burnand. 
Music by A. Sullivan. Modern Coe- 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene; 3 l ow Comedians. See Index. 

Dolly. (Comic Opera.) 1 Act. Period, 
1790. Time 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 
1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 
Low Comedian; 1 Walking Lady. 
Cornelius, a toy maker, makes a doll, 
and thinks he can give it life under 
certain conditions, so that it may be a 
wife to his son. His nephew and 
apprentice breaks it, and causes a 
young milliner, with whom he is in 
love, to dress up and take the doll’s 
place. 

Good Night, Signor Pantaloon. 

(Comic Opera.) 1 Act. Venetian Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 In¬ 
terior Scene; 5 Males; 3 Females; 2 
Bass, 1 Tenor, 2 Utility, 1 Alto, 2 
Sopranos. Isabelle, the ward of Dr. 
Tirifolo. has fallen desperately in love 
with Lelio, but the doctor wishes hel 
to marry the son of Signor Pantaloon. 
This son happens to be Lelio. 

Haunted Mill. (Operetta.) I Act. 
By J. P. Wooler. Costume, Period 
1710. Time, 40 min. 1 Interior Scene; 

1 Comedian, 1 Lady Comedian. Nellie 
Wilton is waiting in a haunted mill to 
meet her loYer, when Captain Careless, 
a Jacobite officer, enters, who has also 
made an appointment to meet one of 
his party. Nelly, hearing that her 
lover has deserted her, becomes en¬ 
gaged to the Captain. 

Jeannette’s Wedding. (Operetta.) 

1 Act. By L. Buckingham and A. 
Harris. French Peasant Cos'ume. 
Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 
Comedian; 2 Utility; 1 Chambermaid. 
This piece is so arranged that the 
songs may be omitted if ne jessary. 
Jean was about to marry Jeasnette. 


but runs away during the ceremony. 
Jeannette follows him., induces him to 
sign the contract, and wins him over. 

Jeannette’s Wedding Day. (Musical 
Farce.) 1 Act. Adanted by T. H. Lacy. 
French Peasant Costume. Time, 1 
hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Comedian; 
1 Utility; 1 Lady Comedian. Another 
version of the above piece. 

Loan of a Lover. (Vaudeville.) 1 

Act. By J. R. Planche. Dutch Cos* 
tume. Time, 1 hour 20 min. 1 Scene; 
Garden of a Villa; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Low Comedian; 2 Old Men; 
1 Lady Comedian; 1 Singing Chamber¬ 
maid. This is a very pretty little 
operetta, and finds much favour with 
the audience. The music is pretty, 
and can be had from the publisher. 
Gertrude is in love with Peter Spyk, 
who will not propose, so Ernestine 
Rosendaal lends her lover. Captain 
Amersfort, to her, and this has ihe 
desired effect of making Peter declare 
himself. 

Lost and Found. (Operetta.) 1 Act. 
By George March. Music by Virginia 
Gabriel. Costume. Louis XV. Time, 
1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Baritones; 
1 Tenor; 1 Soprano. Leonard, an 
artist, had previously fallen in love 
with the Marquise de Beaulieu, whose 
husband having been killed, she retires 
for peace and quietude, and lives as a 
dairymaid. Leonard again meets her, 
and she pretends she does not recognise 
him, but the truth comes out, and he 
finally wins her. 

No Song, No Supper. (Musical 

Entertainment.) 1 Act. By Prince 
Hoare. Old fashioned Costume. Time, 

1 hour. 3 Exterior, 1 Interior Scenes; 

2 Walking Gentlemen; 2 Old Men; 2 
Utility; 2 Walking Ladies; 2 Old 
Women; 1 Utility. Two lovers return 
from sea, and are enabled to be united 
to their sweethearts. 

Poor Soldier. (Musical Farce.) 1 
Act. By J. O’Keefe. Old-fashioned 
Costume. Time, 1 hour 30 min. 1 
Exterior Scene; 1 Comedian; 1 Old 
Man; 3 Low Comedians; 1 French¬ 
man; 1 Utility; 2 Walking Ladies. 
A challenge sent by a French valet to 
Patrick, a poor soldier, gets delivered 
to Captain Fitzroy, who meets Patrick, 
and discovers in him one who had 
saved his life, and he is enabled to 
make him an officer. 


190 


OPERAS 


Popocatapetl. 1 Act. By F. Bob- 
son. Brigand Costume. Time, 45 

min. 1 Exterior Scene; 2 Trage¬ 

dians: 2 Utility; 1 Low Comedian; 
1 Walking Lady. An amusing little 
piece, describing the means adopted 
by a photographer on his wedding 
tour to get away from some brigands 
who had captured him. 

Quaker. 2 Acts. By Charles Dibden. 
Quaker and Peasant Costume, Time, 
50 mip. 3 Exterior, 2 Interior 
Scenes; 2 Old Men; 1 Low Come¬ 
dian; 1 Walking Gentleman; 1 Old 
Woman; 2 Walking Ladies. Gillian 
has been promised in marriage to 
Lubin. They love each other, but 
her parents afterwards wish her to 
marry the rich Quaker, Steady, 
Lubin outwits Steady and obtains 
Gillian for his wife. 

Queen of Hearts. 1 Act. By C. 
Thomas. Modern Costume. Time, 
1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 2 Males, 
1 Female—Baritone. Tenor, and 
Soprano. A young lady promises to 
marry two suitors at the end of twelve 
months if she cannot give sufficient 
reasons for not doing so. When the 
time comes she is bewildered how she 
can get rid of them. She has recourse 
to cards; the first who draws the 
Queen of Hearts obtains her hand. 
She conceals the queen, and pretends 
to draw it herself, and both lovers 
have to retire. 

Ring* and the Keeper. 1 Act. By 
J. P. Wooler. Costume, Period 1670. 
Time, 45 min. 1 Exterior Scene; 
1 Comedian; 1 Lady Comedian. A 
pretty and excellent musical piece. 
Sir Philip Aylmer and Lady Constance 
have never seen each other, but a 
marriage has been arranged between 
them by their parents. Neither of 
them, however, like the idea, so the 
former disguises as a gamekeeper and 
the latter as a waiting-maid. After 
a very amusing scene, their union is 
happily arranged. (Music on Sale). 

Shepherd of Cournouailles. 1 

Act. By George March. Music by 
Virginia Gabriel. Modern Costume. 

Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior Scene; 1 

Singing Comedian; 1 Singing Lady 
Comedian; 1 Chambermaid (does not 
sing). Bertha, a widow, meets Franz, 
a musical composer, wilh whom she 
has fallen in love prev'ous to her 
marriage, and now becomes engaged 
to him. 

Swiss Cottage. 1 Act. By T. H. 
Bayly. Swiss Costume. Interior 

Cottage Scene. Time, 55 min. 2 

Comedians; 1 Chambermaid; 2 


Utility Ladies. Natz Tilk is in levs 
with Lisette Gierstein, but she vows 
she will not marry anyone. The 
neighbours send a letter to Natz in 
Lisette’s name promising to marry 
him. Upon this hoax being dis¬ 
covered Natz is distracted. Lisette’s 
brother Max returns but is not recog¬ 
nised, and, seeing the situation, 
causes the two to be married. 

Swiss Swains. 1 Act. By B. Web¬ 
ster. Swiss Costume. Time. 1 
hour. 1 Exterior Scene; 1 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Low Comedian: 1 
Old Man; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady, Two swains are in love with 
the same damsel, and the manner in 
which the accepted lover contrives to 
defeat his rival serves as a medium 
for considerable amusement. 

Trombalcazar. l Act. Adapted by 
C. H. Stephenson. Music by Offen¬ 
bach. Modern and Theatrical Cos¬ 
tume. Time, 1 hour. 1 Interior 
Scene: 1 Old Man; 2 Comedians; 1 
Chambermaid. An opera company 
travelling stop at a country inn. The 
landlord mistakes them for brigands, 
and much fun ensues. 

Two Blinds. See Index. 

Waterman. (Ballad Opera.) 1 Act. 

By Charles Dibdin. Waterman and 
Peasant’s Costume. Time, 45 min. 
1 Exterior. 1 Interior Scene; 1 Come¬ 
dian; 1 Old Man; 1 Walking Gentle¬ 
man; 1 Old Woman; 1 Walking 
Lady. Mr. Bundle wants hi* 
daughter. Wilhelmina, to marry Tom 
Tug. a jolly young waterman. Mra. 
Bundle wishes her to marry Bobin, a 
sentimental youth. Tom Tug wins 
the coat and badge in the celebrated 
ra-’e. and then secures the hand of 
Wilhelmina. 

Who’s the Hoir? (Operetta.) 1 Act. 
By G. March. Music by V. Gabriel. 
Peasant Costume. Time, 1 hour. 1 
Interior Scene; 1 Tenor; 1 Soprano. 
Boger arrives at his late uncle’s house 
to take possession of the property. 
He meets Nancy, and then finds that 
everything is left to her. They 
arrange matters by becoming engaged. 

Who Stole the Clock? (Operetta.) 

1 Act. Adapted by W. J. Lucas. 
Composed by Albert Grisar. Modern 
Costume. Time. 1 hour. 1 Exterior 
Sheet Scene, rather difficult: 2 Old 
Men: 1 Low Comedian; 3 Walking 
Gentleman; 1 Walking Lady; 1 
Chambermaid. Vv i reworm, an old 

man and guardian to Isabella, wishes 
to marry her, but she prefers a lover 
of her own choice, and the old mw 
ifl defeated. 























































































































































































































































































































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